THE   EXPLOITS  OF 


BRIGADIER    GERARD 


if      A 


BY 


a     u 


A.  CONAN    DOYLE 

AUTHOR   OF   ROUND   THE    RED    LAMP,    THE    STARK    MUNRO    LETTERS, 
THE    ADVENTURES    OF    SHERLOCK    HOLMES,    ETC. 


II  ^tait  brave,  mais  avec  cette  graine  de  folic  dans  sa  bravoure 
que  les  Fran9ais  aiment."  French  Biography 


NEW    YORK 

D.   APPLETON    AND    COMPANY 

1903 


Copyright,  1896, 
By  a.  CONAN  DOYLE. 


The  stories  contained  herein  have  also  been  severally  copyrightsd 
as  follows : 

I.— How  THE  Brigadier  came  to  the  Castle  of  Gloom. 
Copyright,  1895,  by  Irving  Bacheller. 
II. — How  the  Brigadier  slew  the  Brothers  of  Ajaccio. 
Copyright,  1895,  by  Irving  Bacheller. 
III. — How  the  Brigadier  held  the  King. 

Copyright,  1895,  by  Bacheller,  Johnson  and  Bacheller. 
IV. — How  the  King  held  the  Brigadier. 

Copyright,  1895,  by  Bacheller,  Johnson  and  Bacheller. 
V. — How  the  Brigadier  took  the  field  against  the  Marshal 
Millefleurs. 
Copyright,  1895,  by  The  Standard  Press  Comjiany. 
VI.— How  THE  Brigadier  played  for  a  kingdom. 

Copyright,  1895,  by  Bacheller,  Johnson  and  Bacheller. 
VII.— How  Brigadier  Gerard  won  his  medal. 

Copyright,  1894,  by  Bacheller,  Johnson  and  Bacheller. 
VIII. — How  THE  Brigadier  was  tempted  by  the  Devil. 

Copyright,  1895,  by  John  Brisben  Walker  in  the  Cosmopolitan 
Magazine. 


f\i,H-&2 


^ 


I  7  ^  -'-^ 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I. — How  THE  Brigadier  came  to  the  Castle  of 

Gloom i- 

II.— How  the  Brigadier  slew  the  Brothers  of 

AjACCio 45 

III.— How  THE  Brigadier  held  the  King       .        .    87 
IV.— How  THE  King  held  the  Brigadier       .       .135 
v.— How  the  Brigadier  took  the  field  against 

THE  Marshal  Millefleurs  .        .        .        .180 
VI. — How  the  Brigadier  played  for  a  kingdom  .  227 
VII. — How  Brigadier  Gerard  won  his  medal        .  269 
VIII.— How   the   Brigadier   was  tempted   by   the 

Devil 317 


5  67')  98 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FACING 
PAGE 


Ah  !    that   terrible  song  ! Frontispiece 

When  I  doze  in  my  arm-chair,  I  see  those  great  warriors       .  2 

Facing  us  there  sat  a  huge  man 24 

I  saw  a  great  spout  of  fire  shoot  up 43 

He  roared  with  laughter 55 

The  Emperor  was  pacing  up  and  down 69 

The  Emperor  was  standing  before  me 78 

I  was  dragged  by  the  heels  on  to  the  road       ....  97 

"What  game  are  you  up  to  here?" 117 

The  cards  fluttered  from  his  nerveless  fingers    ....  132 

"Help!   help!     A  prisoner  is  escaping!" 150 

I  ventured  to  salute  the  lady's  hand 160 

I  saw  as  many  flashes  as  at  Austerlitz 170 

"  Hang  him  to  the  nearest  tree  " 184 

"I  should  recommend  you  to  keep  in  his  good  graces"  .        .  212 

Her  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face         ......  224 

A  bullet  hummed  past  me 142 

"  This  man  is  mine  " 264 

He  handed  our  letters  to  us 272 

"  Come  out,  you  rascal  !  " 296 

I  laughed  heartily 303 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  he  shouted 313 

Tremeau  and  Berthier  were  rolling  together  upon  the  floor     .  327 

I  pulled  the  package  out 348 


-  ?  ^h  ■■■[  Kji    '^r^ 


All  I    thai  tenil)le  song ! 


(See  page  261.) 


THE    EXPLOITS 
OF    BRIGADIER    GERARD. 


I. 

HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   CAME   TO   THE 
CASTLE   OF    GLOOM. 

You  do  very  well,  my  friends,  to  treat  me  with 
some  little  reverence,  for  in  honouring  me  you  are 
honouring  both  France  and  yourselves.  It  is  not 
merely  an  old,  grey-moustached  officer  whom  you 
see  eating  his  omelette  or  draining  his  glass,  but  it 
is  a  fragment  of  history.  In  me  you  see  one  of 
the  last  of  those  wonderful  men,  the  men  who  were 
veterans  when  they  were  yet  boys,  who  learned  to 
use  a  sword  earlier  than  a  razor,  and  who  during  a 
hundred  battles  had  never  once  let  the  enemy  see 
the  colour  of  their  knapsacks.  For  twenty  years 
we  were  teaching  Europe  how  to  fight,  and  even 
when  they  had  learned  their  lesson  it  was  only  the 
thermometer,  and  never  the  bayonet,  which  could 

Note. — The  term   "  Brigadier  "  is  used  throughout  in  its  English 
and  not  in  its  French  significance. 

1 


2  THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

brealc  the" Grand  Army  down.  Berlin,  Naples,  Vi- 
enna, Madrid,  Lisbon,  Moscow — we  stabled  our 
horses  in  them  all.  Yes,  my  friends,  I  say  again 
that  you  do  well  to  send  your,  children  to  me  with 
flowers,  for  these  ears  have  heard  the  trumpet  calls 
of  France,  and  these  eyes  have  seen  her  standards 
in  lands  where  they  may  never  be  seen  again. 

Even  now,  when  I  doze  in  my  arm-chair,  I  can 
see  those  great  warriors  stream  before  me — the 
green-jacketed  chasseurs,  the  giant  cuirassiers, 
Poniatowsky's  lancers,  the  white-mantled  dra- 
goons, the  nodding  bearskins  of  the  horse  grena- 
diers. And  then  there  comes  the  thick,  low  rattle 
of  the  drums,  and  through  wreaths  of  dust  and 
smoke  I  see  the  line  of  high  bonnets,  the  row  of 
brown  faces,  the  swing  and  toss  of  the  long,  red 
plumes  amid  the  sloping  lines  of  steel.  And  there 
rides  Ney  with  his  red  head,  and  Lefebvre  with 
his  bulldog  jaw,  and  Lannes  with  his  Gascon  swag- 
ger ;  and  then  amidst  the  gleam  of  brass  and  the 
flaunting  feathers  I  catch  a  glimpse  of  him,  the 
man  with  the  pale  smile,  the  rounded  shoulders, 
and  the  far-off  eyes.  There  is  an  end  of  my  sleep, 
my  friends,  for  up  I  spring  from  my  chair,  with  a 
cracked  voice  calling  and  a  silly  hand  outstretched, 


When  I  doze  in  my  arm-chair,   I  see  those  great  warriors. 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.       3 

SO  that  Madame  Titaux  has  one  more  laugh  at  the 
old  fellow  who  lives  among  the  shadows. 

Although  I  was  a  full  Chief  of  Brigade  when 
the  wars  came  to  an  end,  and  had  every  hope  of 
soon  being  made  a  General  of  Division,  it  is  still 
rather  to  my  earlier  days  that  I  turn  when  I  wish 
to  talk  of  the  glories  and  the  trials  of  a  soldier's 
life.  For  you  will  understand  that  when  an  officer 
has  so  many  men  and  horses  under  him,  he  has  his 
mind  full  of  recruits  and  remounts,  fodder  and  far- 
riers, and  quarters,  so  that  even  when  he  is  not  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy,  life  is  a  very  serious  matter 
for  him.  But  when  he  is  only  a  lieutenant  or  a 
captain,  he  has  nothing  heavier  than  his  epaulettes 
upon  his  shoulders,  so  that  he  can  clink  his  spurs 
and  swing  his  dolman,  drain  his  glass  and  kiss  his 
girl,  thinking  of  nothing  save  of  enjoying  a  gallant 
life.  That  is  the  time  when  he  is  likely  to  have  ad- 
ventures, and  it  is  most  often  to  that  time  that  I 
shall  turn  in  the  stories  which  I  may  have  for  you. 
So  it  will  be  to-night  when  I  tell  you  of  my  visit  to 
the  Castle  of  Gloom ;  of  the  strange  mission  of 
Sub-Lieutenant  Duroc,  and  of  the  horrible  afifair  of 
the  man  who  was  once  known  as  Jean  Carabin,  and 
afterwards  as  the  Baron  Straubenthal. 


4  THE    EXPLOITS   OF    BRIGADIER    GERARD. 

You  must  know,  then,  that  in  the  February 
of  1807,  immediately  after  the  taking  of  Danzig, 
Major  Legendre  and  I  were  commissioned  to 
bring  four  hundred  remounts  from  Prussia  into 
Eastern  Poland. 

The  hard  weather,  and  especially  the  great 
battle  at  Eylau,  had  killed  so  many  of  the  horses 
that  there  was  some  danger  of  our  beautiful  Tenth 
of  Hussars  becoming  a  battalion  of  light  infantry. 
We  knew,  therefore,  both  the  Major  and  I,  that  we 
should  be  very  welcome  at  the  front.  We  did  not 
advance  very  rapidly,  however,  for  the  snow  was 
deep,  the  roads  detestable,  and  we  had  but  twenty 
returning  invalids  to  assist  us.  Besides,  it  is  im- 
possible, when  you  have  a  daily  change  of  forage, 
and  sometimes  none  at  all,  to  move  horses  faster 
than  a  walk.  I  am  aware  that  in  the  story-books 
the  cavalry  whirls  past  at  the  maddest  of  gallops ; 
but  for  my  own  part,  after  twelve  campaigns,  I 
should  be  very  satisfied  to  know  that  my  brigade 
could  always  walk  upon  the  march  and  trot  in  the 
presence  of  the  enemy.  This  I  say  of  the  hussars 
and  chasseurs,  mark  you,  so  that  it  is  far  more  the 
case  with  cuirassiers  or  dragoons. 

For  myself  I   am  fond  of  horses,  and   to  have 


HOW    HE    CAME    TO    THE   CASTLE   OF    GLOOM.        5 

four  hundred  of  them,  of  every  age  and  shade  and 
character,  all  under  my  own  hands,  was  a  very 
great  pleasure  to  me.  They  were  from  Pome- 
rania  for  the  most  part,  though  some  were  from 
Normandy  and  some  from  Alsace,  and  it  amused 
us  to  notice  that  they  differed  in  character  as  much 
as  the  people  of  those  provinces.  We  observed 
also,  what  I  have  often  proved  since,  that  the  na- 
ture of  a  horse  can  be  told  by  his  colour,  from 
the  coquettish  light  bay  full  of  fancies  and  nerves, 
to  the  hardy  chestnut,  and  from  the  docile  roan 
to  the  pig-headed  rusty-black.  All  this  has  noth- 
ing in  the  world  to  do  with  my  story,  but  how 
is  an  ofihcer  of  cavalry  to  get  on  with  his  tale  when 
he  finds  four  hundred  horses  waiting  for  him  at 
the  outset?  It  is  my  habit,  you  see,  to  talk  of 
that  which  interests  myself,  and  so  I  hope  that  I 
may  interest  you. 

We  crossed  the  Vistula  opposite  Marienwer- 
der,  and  had  got  as  far  as  Riesenberg,  when  Major 
Legendre  came  into  my  room  in  the  post-house 
with  an  open  paper  in  his  hand. 

*'  You  are  to  leave  me,"  said  he,  with  despair 
upon  his  face. 

It  was  no  very  great  grief  to  me   to   do   that, 


6  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER    GERARD. 

for  he  was,  if  I  may  say  so,  hardly  worthy  to  have 
such  a  subaltern.     I  saluted,  however,  in  silence. 

"  It  is  an  order  from  General  Lasalle,"  he  con- 
tinued ;  "  you  are  to  proceed  to  Rossel  instantly, 
and  to  report  yourself  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
regiment." 

No  message  could  have  pleased  me  better.  I 
was  already  very  well  thought  of  by  my  superior 
officers,  although  I  may  say  that  none  of  them 
had  quite  done  me  justice.  It  was  evident  to  me, 
therefore,  that  this  sudden  order  meant  that  the 
regiment  was  about  to  see  service  once  more,  and 
that  Lasalle  understood  how  incomplete  my  squad- 
ron would  be  without  me.  It  is  true  that  it  came 
at  an  inconvenient  moment,  for  the  keeper  of  the 
post-house  had  a  daughter— one  of  those  ivory- 
skinned,  black-haired  Polish  girls — whom  I  had 
hoped  to  have  some  further  talk  with.  Still,  it  is 
not  for  the  pawn  to  argue  when  the  fingers  of  the 
player  move  him  from  the  square;  so  down  I 
went,  saddled  my  big  black  charger,  Rataplan,  and 
set  off  instantly  upon  my  lonely  journey. 

My  word,  it  was  a  treat  for  those  poor  Poles 
and  Jews,  who  have  so  little  to  brighten  their  dull 
lives   to   see  such   a   picture   as   that  before  their 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.       7 

doors.  The  frosty  morning  air  made  Rataplan's 
great  black  limbs  and  the  beautiful  curves  of  his 
back  and  sides  gleam  and  shimmer  with  every 
gambade.  As  for  me,  the  rattle  of  hoofs  upon  a 
road,  and  the  jingle  of  bridle  chains  which  comes 
with  every  toss  of  a  saucy  head,  would  even  now 
set  my  blood  dancing  through  my  veins.  You 
may  think,  then,  how  I  carried  myself  in  my  five- 
and-twentieth  year — I,  Etienne  Gerard,  the  picked 
horseman  and  surest  blade  in  the  ten  regiments  of 
hussars.  Blue  was  our  colour  in  the  Tenth — a  sky- 
blue  dolman  and  pelisse  with  a  scarlet  front — and 
it  was  said  of  us  in  the  army  that  we  could  set  a 
whole  population  running,  the  women  towards  us, 
and  the  men  away.  There  were  bright  eyes  in  the 
Riesenberg  windows  that  morning,  which  seemed 
to  beg  me  to  tarry ;  but  what  can  a  soldier  do, 
save  to  kiss  his  hand  and  shake  his  bridle  as  he 
rides  upon  his  way  ? 

It  was  a  bleak  season  to  ride  through  the 
poorest  and  ugliest  country  in  Europe,  but  there 
was  a  cloudless  sky  above,  and  a  bright,  cold  sun, 
which  shimmered  on  the  huge  snow-fields.  My 
breath  reeked  into  the  frosty  air,  and  Rataplan 
sent  up  two  feathers  of   steam  from    his   nostrils, 


8  THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

while  the  icicles  drooped  from  the  side-irons  of 
his  bit.  I  let  him  trot  to  warm  his  limbs,  while 
for  my  own  part  1  had  too  much  to  think  of  to 
give  much  heed  to  the  cold.  To  north  and  south 
stretched  the  great  plains,  mottled  over  with  dark 
clumps  of  fir  and  lighter  patches  of  larch.  A  few 
cottages  peeped  out  here  and  there,  but  it  was 
only  three  months  since  the  Grand  Army  had 
passed  that  way,  and  you  know  what  that  meant 
to  a  country.  The  Poles  were  our  friends,  it  was 
true,  but  out  of  a  hundred  thousand  men,  only  the 
Guard  had  waggons,  and  the  rest  had  to  live  as 
best  they  might.  It  did  not  surprise  me,  there- 
fore, to  see  no  signs  of  cattle  and  no  smoke  from 
the  silent  houses.  A  weal  had  been  left  across 
the  country  where  the  great  host  had  passed,  and 
it  was  said  that  even  the  rats  were  starved  wher- 
ever the  Emperor  had  led  his  men. 

By  midday  I  had  got  as  far  as  the  village  of 
Saalfeldt,  but  as  I  was  on  the  direct  road  for 
Osterode,  where  the  Emperor  was  wintering,  and 
also  for  the  main  camp  of  the  seven  divisions  of 
infantry,  the  highway  was  choked  with  carriages 
and  carts.  What  with  artillery,  caissons  and  wag- 
gons and  couriers,  and  the  ever-thickening  stream 


HOW    HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.       9 

of  recruits  and  stragglers,  it  seemed  to  me  that 
it  would  be  a  very  long  time  before  I  should  join 
my  comrades.  The  plains,  however,  were  five  feet 
deep  in  snow,  so  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to 
plod  upon  our  way.  It  was  with  joy,  therefore, 
that  I  found  a  second  road  which  branched  away 
from  the  other,  trending  through  a  fir-wood  to- 
wards the  north.  There  was  a  small  auberge  at 
the  cross-roads,  and  a  patrol  of  the  third  Hussars 
of  Conflans — the  very  regiment  of  which  I  was 
afterwards  colonel — were  mounting  their  horses  at 
the  door.  On  the  steps  stood  their  officer,  a 
slight,  pale  young  man,  who  looked  more  like  a 
young  priest  from  a  seminary  than  a  leader  of 
the  devil-may-care  rascals  before  him. 

"  Good  day,  sir,"  said  he,  seeing  that  I  pulled 
up  my  horse. 

"  Good-day,"  I  answered.  *'  1  am  Lieutenant 
Etienne  Gerard,  of  the  Tenth." 

I  could  see  by  his  face  that  he  had  heard  of 
me.  Everybody  had  heard  of  me  since  my  duel 
with  the  six  fencing-masters.  My  manner,  how- 
ever, served  to  put  him  at  his  ease  with  me. 

"I  am  Sub-Lieutenant  Duroc,  of  the  Third," 
said  he. 


lO         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  Newly  joined  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Last  week." 

I  had  thought  as  much,  from  his  white  face 
and  from  the  way  in  which  he  let  his  men  lounge 
upon  their  horses.  It  was  not  so  long,  however, 
since  I  had  learned  myself  what  it  was  like  when 
a  schoolboy  has  to  give  orders  to  veteran  troop- 
ers. It  made  me  blush,  I  remember,  to  shout 
abrupt  commands  to  men  who  had  seen  more 
battles  than  1  had  years,  and  it  would  have  come 
more  natural  for  me  to  say,  "  With  your  per- 
mission, we  shall  now  wheel  into  line,"  or,  "  If 
you  think  it  best,  we  shall  trot."  I  did  not  think 
the  less  of  the  lad,  therefore,  when  I  observed 
that  his  men  were  somewhat  out  of  hand,  but  I 
gave  them  a  glance  which  stiffened  them  in  their 
saddles. 

"  May  I  ask,  monsieur,  whether  you  are  going 
by  this  northern  road  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  My  orders  are  to  patrol  it  as  far  as  Arens- 
dorf,"  said  he. 

"  Then  I  will,  with  your  permission,  ride  so  far 
with  you,"  said  I.  "  It  is  very  dear  that  the 
longer  way  will  be  the  faster." 

So  it  proved,  for  this  road  led  away  from  the 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     II 

army  into  a  country  which  was  given  over  to  Cos- 
sacks and  marauders,  and  it  was  as  bare  as  the 
other  was  crowded.  Duroc  and  I  rode  in  front, 
with  our  six  troopers  clattering  in  the  rear.  He 
was  a  good  boy,  this  Duroc,  with  his  head  full 
of  the  nonsense  that  they  teach  at  St.  Cyr,  know- 
ing more  about  Alexander  and  Pompey  than  how 
to  mix  a  horse's  fodder  or  care  for  a  horse's 
feet.  Still,  he  was,  as  I  have  said,  a  good  boy, 
unspoiled  as  yet  by  the  camp.  It  pleased  me  to 
hear  him  prattle  away  about  his  sister  Marie 
and  about  his  mother  in  Amiens.  Presently  we 
found  ourselves  at  the  village  of  Hayenau.  Duroc 
rode  up  to  the  post-house  and  asked  to  see  the 
master. 

"  Can  you  tell  me,"  said  he,  ''  whether  the  man 
who  calls  himself  the  Baron  Straubenthal  lives  in 
these  parts  ?  " 

The  postmaster  shook  his  head,  and  we  rode 
upon  our  way. 

I  took  no  notice  of  this,  but  when,  at  the  next 
village,  my  comrade  repeated  the  same  question, 
with  the  same  result,  1  could  not  help  asking  him 
who  this  Baron  Straubenthal  might  be. 

"  He  is  a  man,"  said  Duroc,  with  a  sudden  flush 


12         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

upon  his  boyish  face,  "  to  whom  I  have  a  very 
important  message  to  convey." 

Well,  this  was  not  satisfactory,  but  there  was 
something  in  my  companion's  manner  which  told 
me  that  any  further  questioning  would  be  distaste- 
ful to  him.  I  said  nothing  more,  therefore,  but 
Duroc  would  still  ask  every  peasant  whom  we 
met  whether  he  could  give  him  any  news  of  the 
Baron  Straubenthal. 

For  my  own  part  I  was  endeavouring,  as  an 
officer  of  light  cavalry  should,  to  form  an  idea 
of  the  lay  of  the  country,  to  note  the  course 
of  the  streams,  and  to  mark  the  places  where 
there  should  be  fords.  Every  step  was  taking  us 
farther  from  the  camp  round  the  fianks  of  which 
we  were  travelling.  Far  to  the  south  a  few 
plumes  of  grey  smoke  in  the  frosty  air  marked 
the  position  of  some  of  our  outposts.  To  the 
north,  however,  there  was  nothing  between  our- 
selves and  the  Russian  winter  quarters.  Twice 
on  the  extreme  horizon  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
glitter  of  steel,  and  pointed  it  out  to  my  compan- 
ion. It  was  too  distant  for  us  to  tell  whence  it 
came,  but  we  had  little  doubt  that  it  was  from 
the  lance-heads  of  marauding  Cossacks. 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     1 3 

The  sun  was  just  setting  when  we  rode  over 
a  low  hill  and  saw  a  small  village  upon  our 
right,  and  on  our  left  a  high  black  castle,  which 
jutted  out  from  amongst  the  pine-woods.  A 
farmer  with  his  cart  was  approaching  us  —  a 
matted-haired,  downcast  fellow,  in  a  sheepskin 
jacket. 

"  What  village  is  this  ?  "  asked  Duroc. 

"  It  is  Arensdorf,"  he  answered,  in  his  barbar- 
ous German  dialect. 

''  Then  here  I  am  to  stay  the  night,"  said  my 
young  companion.  Then,  turning  to  the  farmer, 
he  asked  his  eternal  question,  **  Can  you  tell  me 
where  the  Baron  Straubenthal  lives  ?  " 

"  Why,  it  is  he  who  owns  the  Castle  •  of 
Gloom,"  said  the  farmer,  pointing  to  the  dark 
turrets  over  the  distant  fir  forest. 

Duroc  gave  a  shout  like  the  sportsman  who 
sees  his  game  rising  in  front  of  him.  The  lad 
seemed  to  have  gone  off  his  head — his  eyes  shin- 
ing, his  face  deathly  white,  and  such  a  grim  set 
about  his  mouth  as  made  the  farmer  shrink  away 
from  him.  I  can  see  him  now,  leaning  forward 
on  his  brown  horse,  with  his  eager  gaze  fixed 
upon  the  great  black  tower. 


14         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

*'  Why  do  you  call  it  the  Castle  of  Gloom  ? " 
I  asked. 

"  Well,  it's  the  name  it  bears  upon  the  country 
side,"  said  the  farmer.  "  By  all  accounts  there 
have  been  some  black  doings  up  yonder.  It's 
not  for  nothing  that  the  wickedest  man  in  Poland 
has  been  living  there  these  fourteen  years  past." 

"  A  Polish  nobleman  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Nay,  we  breed  no  such  men  in  Poland,"  he 
answered. 

"  A  Frenchman,  then  ?  "  cried  Duroc. 

**  They  say  that  he  came  from  France." 

"  And  with  red  hair  ?  " 

"  As  red  as  a  fox." 

**  Yes,  yes,  it  is  my  man,"  cried  my  companion, 
quivering  all  over  in  his  excitement.  **  It  is  the 
hand  of  Providence  which  has  led  me  here.  Who 
can  say  that  there  is  not  justice  in  this  world  ? 
Come,  Monsieur  Gerard,  for  I  must  see  the  men 
safely  quartered  before  I  can  attend  to  this  private 
matter." 

He  spurred  on  his  horse,  and  ten  minutes  later 
we  were  at  the  door  of  the  inn  of  Arensdorf, 
where  his  men  were  to  find  their  quarters  for  the 
night. 


HOW    HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     1 5 

Well,  all  this  was  no  affair  of  mine,  and  I  could 
not  imagine  what  the  meaning  of  it  might  be. 
Rossel  was  still  far  off,  but  I  determined  to  ride 
on  for  a  few  hours  and  take  my  chance  of  some 
wayside  barn  in  which  I  could  find  shelter  for 
Rataplan  and  myself.  I  had  mounted  my  horse, 
therefore,  after  tossing  off  a  cup  of  wine,  when 
young  Duroc  came  running  out  of  the  door  and 
laid  his  hand  upon  my  knee. 

"  Monsieur  Gerard,"  he  panted,  "  I  beg  of  you 
not  to  abandon  me  like  this  !  " 

"  My  good  sir,"  said  I,  "  if  you  would  tell  me 
what  is  the  matter  and  what  you  would  wish  me 
to  do,  I  should  be  better  able  to  tell  you  if  I 
could  be  of  any  assistance  to  you." 

"  You  can  be  of  the  very  greatest,"  he  cried. 
"  Indeed,  from  all  that  I  have  heard  of  you.  Mon- 
sieur Gerard,  you  are  the  one  man  whom  I  should 
wish  to  have  by  my  side  to-night." 

*'  You  forget  that  I  am  riding  to  join  my  regi- 
ment." 

"  You  cannot,  in  any  case,  reach  it  to-night. 
To-morrow  will  bring  you  to  Rossel.  By  staying 
with  me  you  will  confer  the  very  greatest  kindness 
upon  me,  and  you  will  aid  me  in  a  matter  which 


1 6         THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

concerns  my  own  honour  and  the  honour  of  my 
family.  I  am  compelled,  however,  to  confess  to 
you  that  some  personal  danger  may  possibly  be 
involved." 

It  was  a  crafty  thing  for  him  to  say.  Of 
course,  I  sprang  from  Rataplan's  back  and  or- 
dered the  groom  to  lead  him  back  into  the 
stables. 

"  Come  into  the  inn,"  said  I,  "  and  let  me 
know  exactly  what  it  is  that  you  wish  me  to  do." 

He  led  the  way  into  a  sitting-room,  and  fas- 
tened the  door  lest  we  should  be  interrupted. 
He  was  a  well-grown  lad,  and  as  he  stood  in  the 
glare  of  the  lamp,  with  the  light  beating  upon  his 
earnest  face  and  upon  his  uniform  of  silver  grey, 
which  suited  him  to  a  marvel,  I  felt  my  heart 
warm  towards  him.  Without  going  so  far  as  to 
say  that  he  carried  himself  as  I  had  done  at  his 
age,  there  was  at  least  similarity  enough  to  make 
me  feel  in  sympathy  with  him. 

"  I  can  explain  it  all  in  a  few  words,"  said  he. 
"  If  I  have  not  already  satisfied  your  very  natural 
curiosity,  it  is  because  the  subject  is  so  painful  a 
one  to  me  that  I  can  hardly  bring  myself  to  allude 
to  it.     I  cannot,  however,  ask  for  your  assistance 


HOW    HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     1/ 

without   explaining  to   you  exactly  how  the  mat- 
ter lies. 

"  You  must  know,  then,  that  my  father  was 
the  well-known  banker,  Christophe  Duroc,  who 
was  murdered  by  the  people  during  the  Septem- 
ber massacres.  As  you  are  aware,  the  mob  took 
possession  of  the  prisons,  chose  three  so-called 
judges  to  pass  sentence  upon  the  unhappy  aristo- 
crats, and  then  tore  them  to  pieces  when  they 
were  passed  out  into  the  street.  My  father  had 
been  a  benefactor  of  the  poor  all  his  life.  There 
were  many  to  plead  for  him.  He  had  the  fever, 
too,  and  was  carried  in,  half-dead,  upon  a  blanket. 
Two  of  the  judges  were  in  favour  of  acquitting 
him ;  the  third,  a  young  Jacobin,  whose  huge 
body  and  brutal  mind  made  him  a  leader  among 
these  wretches,  dragged  him,  with  his  own  hands, 
from  the  litter,  kicked  him  again  and  again  with 
his  heavy  boots,  and  hurled  him  out  of  the  door, 
where  in  an  instant  he  was  torn  limb  from  limb 
under  circumstances  which  are  too  horrible  for 
me  to  describe.  This,  as  you  perceive,  was  mur- 
der, even  under  their  own  unlawful  laws,  for  two 
of  their  own  judges  had  pronounced  in  my  father's 
favour. 


l8         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  Well,  when  the  days  of  order  came  back 
again,  my  elder  brother  began  to  make  inquiries 
about  this  man.  I  was  only  a  child  then,  but  it 
was  a  family  matter,  and  it  was  discussed  in  my 
presence.  The  fellow's  name  was  Carabin.  He 
was  one  of  Sansterre's  Guard,  and  a  noted  duel- 
list. A  foreign  lady  named  the  Baroness  Strau- 
benthal  having  been  dragged  before  the  Jaco- 
bins, he  had  gained  her  liberty  for  her  on  the 
promise  that  she  with  her  money  and  estates 
should  be  his.  He  had  married  her,  taken 
her  name  and  title,  and  escaped  out  of  France 
at  the  time  of  the  fall  of  Robespierre.  What 
had  become  of  him  we  had  no  means  of  learn- 
ing. 

"  You  will  think,  doubtless,  that  it  would  be 
easy  for  us  to  find  him,  since  we  had  both  his 
name  and  his  title.  You  must  remember,  how- 
ever, that  the  Revolution  left  us  without  money, 
and  that  without  money  such  a  search  is  very 
difficult.  Then  came  the  Empire,  and  it  became 
more  difficult  still,  for,  as  you  are  aware,  the 
Emperor  considered  that  the  i8th  Brumaire 
brought  all  accounts  to  a  settlement,  and  that  on 
that  day  a  veil  had   been   drawn  across  the  past. 


HOW   HE  CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     I9 

None  the  less,  we  kept  our  own  family  story  and 
our  own  family  plans. 

"  My  brother  joined  the  army,  and  passed  with 
it  through  all  Southern  Europe,  asking  every- 
where for  the  Baron  Straubenthal.  Last  October 
he  was  killed  at  Jena,  with  his  mission  still  un- 
fulfilled. Then  it  became  my  turn,  and  I  have 
the  good  fortune  to  hear  of  the  very  man  of 
whom  I  am  in  search  at  one  of  the  first  Polish 
villages  which  I  have  to  visit,  and  within  a  fort- 
night of  joining  my  regiment.  And  then,  to  make 
the  matter  even  better,  I  find  myself  in  the  com- 
pany of  one  whose  name  is  never  mentioned 
throughout  the  army  save  in  connection  with 
some  daring  and  generous  deed." 

This  was  all  very  well,  and  I  listened  to  it  with 
the  greatest  interest,  but  I  was  none  the  clearer  as 
to  what  young  Duroc  wished  me  to  do. 

"  How  can  I  be  of  service  to  you  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  By  coming  up  with  me." 

**  To  the  Castle  ?  " 

«*  Precisely." 

*'  When  ?  " 

"  At  once." 

"  But  what  do  you  intend  to  do  ?  " 


20         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

**  I  shall  know  what  to  do.  But  I  wish  you  to 
be  with  me,  all  the  same." 

Well,  it  was  never  in  my  nature  to  refuse  an 
adventure,  and,  besides,  I  had  every  sympathy 
with  the  lad's  feelings.  It  is  very  well  to  forgive 
one's  enemies,  but  one  wishes  to  give  them  some- 
thing to  forgive  also.  I  held  out  my  hand  to  him, 
therefore. 

"  I  must  be  on  my  way  for  Rossel  to-morrow 
morning,  but  to-night  I  am  yours,"  said  I. 

We  left  our  troopers  in  snug  quarters,  and,  as 
it  was  but  a  mile  to  the  Castle,  we  did  not  dis- 
turb our  horses.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  hate  to  see 
a  cavalry  man  walk,  and  1  hold  that  just  as  he  is 
the  most  gallant  thing  upon  earth  when  he  has  his 
saddle-flaps  between  his  knees,  so  he  is  the  most 
clumsy  when  he  has  to  loop  up  his  sabre  and 
his  sabre-tasche  in  one  hand  and  turn  in  his  toes 
for  fear  of  catching  the  rowels  of  his  spurs.  Still, 
Duroc  and  I  were  of  the  age  when  one  can  carry 
things  off,  and  I  dare  swear  that  no  woman  at  least 
would  have  quarrelled  with  the  appearance  of  the 
two  young  hussars,  one  in  blue  and  one  in  gray, 
who  set  out  that  night  from  the  Arensdorf  post- 
house.     We  both  carried  our  swords,  and  for  my 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     21 

own  part  I  slipped  a  pistol  from  my  holster  into 
the  inside  of  my  pelisse,  for  it  seemed  to  me  that 
there  might  be  some  wild  work  before  us. 

The  track  which  led  to  the  Castle  wound 
through  a  pitch-black  fir-wood,  where  we  could 
see  nothing  save  the  ragged  patch  of  stars  above 
our  head.  Presently,  however,  it  opened  up,  and 
there  was  the  Castle  right  in  front  of  us,  about  as 
far  as  a  carbine  would  carry.  It  was  a  huge,  un- 
couth place,  and  bore  every  mark  of  being  ex- 
ceedingly old,  with  turrets  at  every  corner,  and  a 
square  keep  on  the  side  which  was  nearest  to  us. 
In  all  its  great  shadow  there  was  no  sign  of  light 
save  for  a  single  window,  and  no  sound  came  from 
it.  To  me  there  was  something  awful  in  its  size 
and  its  silence,  which  corresponded  so  well  with  its 
sinister  name.  My  companion  pressed  on  eagerly, 
and  I  followed  him  along  the  ill-kept  path  which 
led  to  the  gate. 

There  was  no  bell  or  knocker  upon  the  great, 
iron-studded  door,  and  it  was  only  by  pounding 
with  the  hilts  of  our  sabres  that  we  could  attract 
attention.  A  thin,  hawk-faced  man,  with  a  beard 
up  to  his  temples,  opened  it  at  last.  He  carried 
a  lantern  in  one  hand,  and   in  the  other  a  chain 


22         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

which  held  an  enormous  black  hound.  His  man- 
ner at  the  first  moment  was  threatening,  but  the 
sight  of  our  uniforms  and  of  our  faces  turned  it 
into  one  of  sulky  reserve. 

"  The  Baron  Straubenthal  does  not  receive  vis- 
itors at  so  late  an  hour,"  said  he,  speaking  in  very 
excellent  French. 

"You  can  inform  Baron  Straubenthal  that  I 
have  come  eight  hundred  leagues  to  see  him,  and 
that  I  will  not  leave  until  I  have  done  so,"  said 
my  companion.  I  could  not  myself  have  said  it 
with  a  better  voice  and  manner. 

The  fellow  took  a  sidelong  look  at  us,  and 
tugged  at  his  black  beard  in  his  perplexity. 

"  To  tell  the  truth,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  the 
Baron  has  a  cup  or  two  of  wine  in  him  at  this  hour, 
and  you  would  certainly  find  him  a  more  entertain- 
ing companion  if  you  were  to  come  again  in  the 
morning." 

He  had  opened  the  door  a  little  wider  as  he 
spoke,  and  I  saw  by  the  light  of  the  lamp  in  the 
hall  behind  him  that  three  other  rough  fellows 
were  standing  there,  one  of  whom  held  another  of 
these  monstrous  hounds.  Duroc  must  have  seen 
it  also,  but  it  made  no  difference  to  his  resolution. 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.    23 

"  Enough  talk,"  said  he,  pushing  the  man  to 
one  side.  "  It  is  with  your  master  that  I  have  to 
deal." 

The  fellows  in  the  hall  made  way  for  him  as 
he  strode  in  among  them,  so  great  is  the  power 
of  one  man  who  knows  what  he  wants  over  sev- 
eral who  are  not  sure  of  themselves.  My  com- 
panion tapped  one  of  them  upon  the  shoulder 
with  as  much  assurance  as  though  he  owned  him. 

"Show  me  to  the  Baron,"  said  he. 

The  man  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  answered 
something  in  Polish.  The  fellow  with  the  beard, 
who  had  shut  and  barred  the  front  door,  appeared 
to  be  the  only  one  among  them  who  could  speak 
French. 

"  Well,  you  shall  have  your  way,"  said  he,  with 
a  sinister  smile.  "  You  shall  see  the  Baron.  And 
perhaps,  before  you  have  finished,  you  will  wish 
that  you  had  taken  my  advice." 

We  followed  him  down  the  hall,  which  was 
stone-flagged  and  very  spacious,  with  skins  scat- 
tered upon  the  floor,  and  the  heads  of  wild  beasts 
upon  the  walls.  At  the  farther  end  he  threw 
open  a  door,  and  we  entered. 

It  was  a  small  room,  scantily  furnished,  with 


24         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

the  same  marks  of  neglect  and  decay  which  met 
us  at  every  turn.  The  walls  were  hung  with  dis- 
coloured tapestry,  which  had  come  loose  at  one 
corner,  so  as  to  expose  the  rough  stonework  be- 
hind. A  second  door,  hung  with  a  curtain,  faced 
us  upon  the  other  side.  Between  lay  a  square 
table,  strewn  with  dirty  dishes  and  the  sordid  re- 
mains of  a  meal.  Several  bottles  were  scattered 
over  it.  At  the  head  of  it,  and  facing  us,  there 
sat  a  huge  man,  with  a  lion-like  head  and  a  great 
shock  of  orange-coloured  hair.  His  beard  was  of 
the  same  glaring  hue ;  matted  and  tangled  and 
coarse  as  a  horse's  mane.  I  have  seen  some 
strange  faces  in  my  time,  but  never  one  more 
brutal  than  that,  with  its  small,  vicious,  blue  eyes, 
its  white,  crumpled  cheeks,  and  the  thick,  hang- 
ing lip  which  protruded  over  his  monstrous  beard. 
His  head  swayed  about  on  his  shoulders,  and  he 
looked  at  us  with  the  vague,  dim  gaze  of  a  drunken 
man.  Yet  he  was  not  so  drunk  but  that  our  uni- 
forms carried  their  message  to  him. 

"  Well,  my  brave  boys,"  he  hiccoughed. 
"  What  is  the  latest  news  from  Paris,  eh  ?  You're 
going  to  free  Poland,  I  hear,  and  have  meantime 
all  become  slaves  yourselves — slaves  to  a  little  aris- 


Facing  us  there  sat  a  huge  man. 


HOW   HE  CAME   TO   THE  CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     2$ 

tocrat  with  his  grey  coat  and  his  three-cornered 
hat.  No  more  citizens  either,  I  am  told,  and  noth- 
ing but  monsieur  and  madame.  My  faith,  some 
more  heads  will  have  to  roll  into  the  sawdust 
basket  some  of  these  mornings." 

Duroc  advanced  in  silence,  and  stood  by  the 
ruffian's  side. 

"Jean  Carabin,"  said  he. 

The  Baron  started,  and  the  film  of  drunkenness 
seemed  to  be  clearing  from  his  eyes. 

"Jean  Carabin,"  said  Duroc,  once  more. 

He  sat  up  and  grasped  the  arms  of  his  chair. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  repeating  that  name, 
young  man  ?  "   he  asked. 

"Jean  Carabin,  you  are  a  man  whom  I  have 
long  wished  to  meet." 

"  Supposing  that  I  once  had  such  a  name,  how 
can  it  concern  you,  since  you  must  have  been  sr 
child  when  I  bore  it  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Duroc." 

"Not  the  son  of ?" 

"  The  son  of  the  man  you  murdered." 

The  Baron  tried  to  laugh,  but  there  was  terroi 
in  his  eyes. 

"  We    must    let   bygones    be    bygones,    young 


26         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

man,"  he  cried.  "  It  was  our  life  or  theirs  in  those 
days :  the  aristocrats  or  the  people.  Your  father 
was  of  the  Gironde.  He  fell.  I  was  of  the  moun- 
tain. Most  of  my  comrades  fell.  It  was  all  the 
fortune  of  war.  We  must  forget  all  this  and  learn 
to  know  each  other  better,  you  and  I."  He  held 
out  a  red  twitching  hand  as  he  spoke. 

"Enough,"  said  young  Duroc.  "If  I  were  to 
pass  my  sabre  through  you  as  you  sit  in  that 
chair,  I  should  do  what  is  just  and  right.  I  dis- 
honour my  blade  by  crossing  it  with  yours.  And 
yet  you  are  a  Frenchman,  and  have  even  held  a 
commission  under  the  same  flag  as  myself.  Rise, 
then,  and  defend  yourself ! " 

"  Tut,  tut ! "  cried  the  Baron.  "  It  is  all  very 
well  for  you  young  bloods " 

Duroc's  patience  could  stand  no  more.  He 
swung  his  open  hand  into  the  centre  of  the  great 
orange  beard.  I  saw  a  lip  fringed  with  blood, 
and  two  glaring  blue  eyes  above  it. 

"You  shall  die  for  that  blow." 

"That  is  better,"  said  Duroc. 

"  My  sabre !  "  cried  the  other ;  "  I  will  not  keep 
you  waiting,  I  promise  you ! "  and  he  hurried 
from  the  room. 


HOW   HE  CAME   TO   THE  CASTLE  OF   GLOOM.     2/ 

I  have  said  that  there  was  a  second  door  cov- 
ered with  a  curtain.  Hardly  had  the  Baron  van- 
ished when  there  ran  from  behind  it  a  woman, 
young  and  beautiful.  So  swiftly  and  noiselessly 
did  she  move  that  she  was  between  us  in  an  in- 
stant, and  it  was  only  the  shaking  curtains  which 
told  us  whence  she  had  come. 

"  I  have  seen  it  all,"  she  cried.  "  Oh,  sir,  you 
have  carried  yourself  splendidly."  She  stooped 
to  my  companion's  hand,  and  kissed  it  again  and 
again  ere  he  could  disengage  it  from  her  grasp. 

"Nay,  madame,  why  should  you  kiss  my 
hand  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  Because  it  is  the  hand  which  struck  him  on 
his  vile,  lying  mouth.  Because  it  may  be  the  hand 
which  will  avenge  my  mother.  I  am  his  step- 
daughter. The  woman  whose  heart  he  broke  was 
my  mother.  I  loathe  him,  I  fear  him.  Ah,  there 
is  his  step ! "  In  an  instant  she  had  vanished  as 
suddenly  as  she  had  come.  A  moment  later,  the 
Baron  entered  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand, 
and  the  fellow  who  had  admitted  us  at  his  heels. 

"This  is  my  secretary,"  said  he.  "He  will 
be  my  friend  in  this  affair.  But  we  shall  need 
more  elbow-room  than  we  can  find  here.     Perhaps 


28         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

you  will  kindly  come  with  me  to  a  more  spacious 
apartment." 

It  was  evidently  impossible  to  fight  in  a  cham- 
ber which  was  blocked  by  a  great  table.  We  fol- 
lowed him  out,  therefore,  into  the  dimly-lit  hall. 
At  the  farther  end  a  light  was  shining  through 
an  open  door. 

"  We  shall  find  what  we  want  in  here,"  said 
the  man  with  the  dark  beard.  It  was  a  large, 
empty  room,  with  rows  of  barrels  and  cases  round 
the  walls.  A  strong  lamp  stood  upon  a  shelf  in 
the  corner.  The  floor  was  level  and  true,  so  that 
no  swordsman  could  ask  for  more.  Duroc  drew 
his  sabre  and  sprang  into  it.  The  Baron  stood 
back  with  a  bow  and  motioned  me  to  follow  my 
companion.  Hardly  were  my  heels  over  the 
threshold  when  the  heavy  door  crashed  behind  us 
and  the  key  screamed  in  the  lock.  We  were 
taken  in  a  trap. 

For  a  moment  we  could  not  realize  it.  Such 
incredible  baseness  was  outside  all  our  experiences. 
Then,  as  we  understood  how  foolish  we  had  been 
to  trust  for  an  instant  a  man  with  such  a  history, 
a  flush  of  rage  came  over  us,  rage  against  his  vil- 
lainy and  against  our  own  stupidity.     We  rushed 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.    29 

at  the  door  together,  beating  it  with  our  fists  and 
kicking  with  our  heavy  boots.  The  sound  of  our 
blows  and  of  our  execrations  must  have  resounded 
through  the  Castle.  We  called  to  this  villain, 
hurling  at  him  every  name  which  might  pierce 
even  into  his  hardened  soul.  But  the  door  was 
enormous — such  a  door  as  one  finds  in  mediaeval 
castles — made  of  huge  beams  clamped  together 
with  iron.  It  was  as  easy  to  break  as  a  square 
of  the  Old  Guard.  And  our  cries  appeared  to  be 
of  as  little  avail  as  our  blows,  for  they  only 
brought  for  answer  the  clattering  echoes  from  the 
high  roof  above  us.  When  you  have  done  some 
soldiering,  you  soon  learn  to  put  up  with  what 
cannot  be  altered.  It  was  I,  then,  who  first  re- 
covered my  calmness,  and  prevailed  upon  Duroc 
to  join  with  me  in  examining  the  apartment  which 
had  become  our  dungeon. 

There  was  only  one  window,  which  had  no 
glass  in  it  and  was  so  narrow  that  one  could  not 
so  much  as  get  one's  head  through.  It  was  high 
up,  and  Duroc  had  to  stand  upon  a  barrel  in  or- 
der to  see  from  it. 

"What  can  you  see?"  I  asked. 
.     "  Fir-woods,  and    an    avenue  of   snow  between 


30         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

them,"  said  he.     *'  Ah  !  "    he   gave    a   cry  of    sur- 
prise. 

I  sprang-  upon  the  barrel  beside  him.  There 
was,  as  he  said,  a  long,  clear  strip  of  snow  in  front. 
A  man  was  riding  down  it,  flogging  his  horse  and 
galloping  like  a  madman.  As  we  watched,  he 
grew  smaller  and  smaller,  until  he  was  swallowed 
up  by  the  black  shadows  of  the  forest. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  "  asked  Duroc. 

"  No  good  for  us,"  said  I.  "  He  may  have  gone 
for  some  brigands  to  cut  our  throats.  Let  us  see 
if  we  cannot  find  a  way  out  of  this  mouse-trap 
before  the  cat  can  arrive." 

The  one  piece  of  good  fortune  in  our  favour 
was  that  beautiful  lamp.  It  was  nearly  full  of 
oil,  and  would  last  us  until  morning.  In  the  dark 
our  situation  would  have  been  far  more  difficult. 
By  its  light  we  proceeded  to  examine  the  pack- 
ajres  and  cases  which  lined  the  walls.  In  some 
places  there  was  only  a  single  line  of  them,  while 
in  one  corner  they  were  piled  nearly  to  the  ceil- 
ing. It  seemed  that  we  were  in  the  storehouse 
of  the  Castle,  for  there  were  a  great  number  of 
cheeses,  vegetables  of  various  kinds,  bins  full  of 
dried  fruits,  and  a  line  of  wine   barrels.      One  of 


HOW   HE  CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     3 1 

these  had  a  spigot  in  it,  and  as  I  had  eaten  little 
during  the  day,  I  was  glad  of  a  cup  of  claret  and 
some  food.  As  to  Duroc,  he  would  take  nothing, 
but  paced  up  and  down  the  room  in  a  fever  of 
anger  and  impatience.  ''I'll  have  him  yet!"  he 
cried,  every  now  and  then.  **  The  rascal  shall  not 
escape  me ! " 

This  was  all  very  well,  but  it  seemed  to  me, 
as  I  sat  on  a  great  round  cheese  eating  my  sup- 
per, that  this  youngster  was  thinking  rather  too 
much  of  his  own  family  affairs  and  too  little  of 
the  fine  scrape  into  which  he  had  got  me.  After 
all,  his  father  had  been  dead  fourteen  years,  and 
nothing  could  set  that  right ;  but  here  was  Etienne 
Gerard,  the  most  dashing  lieutenant  in  the  whole 
Grand  Army,  in  imminent  danger  of  being  cut  off 
at  the  very  outset  of  his  brilliant  career.  Who 
was  ever  to  know  the  heights  to  which  I  might 
have  risen  if  I  were  knocked  on  the  head  in  this 
hole-and-corner  business,  which  had  nothing  what- 
ever to  do  with  France  or  the  Emperor  ?  I  could 
not  help  thinking  what  a  fool  I  had  been,  when 
I  had  a  fine  war  before  me  and  everything  which 
a  man  could  desire,  to  go  off  upon  a  hare-brained 
expedition  of  this  sort,  as  if  it  were   not  enough 


32  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

to  have  a  quarter  of  a  million  Russians  to  fight 
against,  without  plunging  into  all  sorts  of  private 
quarrels  as  well. 

*'  That  is  all  very  well,"  I  said  at  last,  as  I 
heard  Duroc  muttering  his  threats.  "  You  may 
do  what  you  like  to  him  when  you  get  the  upper 
hand.  At  present  the  question  rather  is,  what  is 
ke  going  to  do  to  us?" 

"  Let  him  do  his  worst !  "  cried  the  boy.  "  I 
owe  a  duty  to  my  father." 

"  That  is  mere  foolishness,"  said  I.  "  If  you 
owe  a  duty  to  your  father,  I  owe  one  to  my 
mother,  which  is  to  get  out  of  this  business  safe 
and  sound." 

My  remark  brought  him  to  his  senses. 

"  I  have  thought  too  much  of  myself !  "  he  cried. 
'*  Forgive  me.  Monsieur  Gerard.  Give  me  your 
advice  as  to  what  I  should  do." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  it  is  not  for  our  health  that 
they  have  shut  us  up  here  among  the  cheeses. 
They  mean  to  make  an  end  of  us  if  they  can. 
That  is  certain.  They  hope  that  no  one  knows 
that  we  have  come  here,  and  that  none  will  trace 
us  if  we  remain.  Do  your  hussars  know  where 
you  have  gone  to  ? " 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     33 

"  I  said  nothing." 

**  Hum !  It  is  clear  that  we  cannot  be  starved 
here.  They  must  come  to  us  if  they  are  to  kill 
us.  Behind  a  barricade  of  barrels  we  could  hold 
our  own  against  the  five  rascals  whom  we  have 
seen.  That  is,  probably,  why  they  have  sent  that 
messenger  for  assistance." 

"  We  must  get  out  before  he  returns." 

*'  Precisely,  if  we  are  to  get  out  at  all." 

"  Could  we  not  burn  down  this  door  ?  "  he  cried. 

*'  Nothing  could  be  easier,"  said  I.  **  There  are 
several  casks  of  oil  in  the  corner.  My  only  ob- 
jection is  that  we  should  ourselves  be  nicely 
toasted,  like  two  little  oyster  pates." 

"Can  you  not  suggest  something?"  he  cried, 
in  despair.     **Ah,  what  is  that?" 

There  had  been  a  low  sound  at  our  little  win- 
dow, and  a  shadow  came  between  the  stars  and 
ourselves.  A  small,  white  hand  w^as  stretched 
into  the  lamplight.  Something  glittered  between 
the  fingers. 

"  Quick  !  quick ! "  cried  a  woman's  voice. 

We  were  on  the  barrel  in  an  instant. 

"  They  have  sent  for  the  Cossacks.  Your  lives 
are  at  stake.     Ah,  I  am  lost !     I  am  lost ! " 


34         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

There  was  the  sound  of  rushing  steps,  a  hoarse 
oath,  a  blow,  and  the  stars  were  once  more  twin- 
kling through  the  window.  We  stood  helpless 
upon  our  barrel  with  our  blood  cold  with  horror. 
Half  a  minute  afterwards  we  heard  a  smothered 
scream,  ending  in  a  choke.  A  great  door  slammed 
somewhere  in  the  silent  night. 

"  Those  ruffians  have  seized  her.  They  will 
kill  her,"  I  cried. 

Duroc  sprang  down  with  the  inarticulate  shouts 
of  one  whose  reason  had  left  him.  He  struck  the 
door  so  frantically  with  his  naked  hands  that  he 
left  a  blotch  of  blood  with  every  blow. 

"  Here  is  the  key ! "  I  shouted,  picking  one 
from  the  floor.  **  She  must  have  thrown  it  -in  at 
the  instant  that  she  was  torn  away." 

My  companion  snatched  it  from  me  with  a 
shriek  of  joy.  A  moment  later  he  dashed  it  down 
upon  the  boards.  It  was  so  small  that  it  was  lost 
in  the  enormous  lock.  Duroc  sank  upon  one  of 
the  boxes  with  his  head  between  his  hands.  He 
sobbed  in  his  despair.  I  could  have  sobbed,  too, 
when  I  thought  of  the  woman  and  how  helpless 
we  were  to  save  her. 

But  I  am  not  easily  baffled.     After  all,  this  key 


HOW  HE  CAME  TO  THE   CASTLE  OF  GLOOM.     35 

must  have  been  sent  to  us  for  a  purpose.  The 
lady  could  not  bring  us  that  of  the  door,  because 
this  murderous  step-father  of  hers  would  most 
certainly  have  it  in  his  pocket.  Yet  this  other 
must  have  a  meaning,  or  why  should  she  risk  her 
life  to  place  it  in  our  hands  ?  It  would  say  little 
for  our  wits  if  we  could  not  find  out  what  that 
meaning  might  be. 

I  set  to  work  moving  all  the  cases  out  from 
the  wall,  and  Duroc,  gaining  new  hope  from  my 
courage,  helped  me  with  all  his  strength.  It  was 
no  light  task,  for  many  of  them  were  large  and 
heavy.  On  we  went,  working  like  maniacs,  sling- 
ing barrels,  cheeses,  and  boxes  pell-mell  into  the 
middle  of  the  room.  At  last  there  only  remained 
one  huge  barrel  of  vodki,  which  stood  in  the  cor- 
ner. With  our  united  strength  we  rolled  it  out, 
and  there  was  a  little  low  wooden  door  in  the  wain- 
scot behind  it.  The  key  fitted,  and  with  a  cry  of 
delight  we  saw  it  swing  open  before  us.  With  the 
lamp  in  my  hand,  I  squeezed  my  way  in,  followed 
by  my  companion. 

We  were  in  the  powder-magazine  of  the  castle 
— a  rough,  walled  cellar,  with  barrels  all  round  it, 
and  one  with  the  top  staved  in  in  the  centre.     The 


36         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

powder  from  it  lay  in  a  black  heap  upon  the  floor. 
Beyond  there  was  another  door,  but  it  was  locked. 

"  We  are  no  better  off  than  before,"  cried  Du- 
roc.     **  We  have  no  key." 

"  We  have  a  dozen,"  I  cried. 

"  Where  ?  " 

I  pointed  to  the  line  of  powder  barrels. 

*'  You  would  blow  this  door  open  ?  " 

"  Precisely." 

"  But  you  would  explode  the  magazine." 

It  was  true,  but  I  was  not  at  the  end  of  my  re- 
sources. 

"  We  will   blow  open  the  store-room  door,"  I 
cried. 

I  ran  back  and  seized  a  tin  box  which  had  been 
filled  with  candles.  It  was  about  the  size  of  my 
shako — large  enough  to  hold  several  pounds  of 
powder.  Duroc  filled  it  while  I  cut  off  the  end  of 
a  candle.  When  we  had  finished,  it  would  have 
puzzled  a  colonel  of  engineers  to  make  a  better 
petard.  I  put  three  cheeses  on  the  top  of  each 
other  and  placed  it  above  them,  so  as  to  lean 
against  the  lock.  Then  we  lit  our  candle-end  and 
ran  for  shelter,  shutting  the  door  of  the  magazine 
behind  us. 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     37 

It  is  no  joke,  my  friends,  to  lie  among  all  those 
tons  of  powder,  with  the  knowledge  that  if  the 
flame  of  the  explosion  should  penetrate  through 
one  thin  door  our  blackened  limbs  would  be  shot 
higher  than  the  Castle  keep.  Who  could  have 
believed  that  a  half-inch  of  candle  could  take  so 
long  to  burn  ?  My  ears  were  straining  all  the 
time  for  the  thudding  of  the  hoofs  of  the  Cos- 
sacks who  were  coming  to  destroy  us.  I  had 
almost  made  up  my  mind  that  the  candle  must 
have  gone  out  when  there  was  a  smack  like  a 
bursting  bomb,  our  door  flew  to  bits,  and  pieces 
of  cheese,  with  a  shower  of  turnips,  apples,  and 
splinters  of  cases,  were  shot  in  among  us.  As 
we  rushed  out  we  had  to  stagger  through  an  im- 
penetrable smoke,  with  all  sorts  of  d6bris  beneath 
our  feet,  but  there  was  a  glimmering  square  where 
the  dark  door  had  been.  The  petard  had  done 
its  work. 

In  fact,  it  had  done  more  for  us  than  we  had 
even  ventured  to  hope.  It  had  shattered  gaolers 
as  well  as  gaol.  The  first  thing  that  I  saw  as  I 
came  out  into  the  hall  was  a  man  with  a  butcher's 
axe  in  his  hand,  lying  flat  upon  his  back,  with  a 
gaping  wound  across  his  forehead.     The  second 


38         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

was  a  huge  dog,  with  two  of  its  legs  broken,  twist- 
ing in  agony  upon  the  floor.  As  it  raised  itself  up 
I  saw  the  two  broken  ends  flapping  like  flails.  At 
the  same  instant  I  heard  a  cry,  and  there  was  Du- 
roc,  thrown  against  the  wall,  with  the  other 
hound's  teeth  in  his  throat.  He  pushed  it  off 
with  his  left  hand,  while  again  and  again  he  passed 
his  sabre  through  its  body,  but  it  was  not  until  I 
blew  out  its  brains  with  my  pistol  that  the  iron 
jaws  relaxed,  and  the  fierce,  bloodshot  eyes  were 
glazed  in  death. 

There  was  no  time  for  us  to  pause.  A  woman's 
scream  from  in  front — a  scream  of  mortal  terror — 
told  us  that  even  now  we  might  be  too  late. 
There  were  two  other  men  in  the  hall,  but  they 
cowered  away  from  our  drawn  swords  and  furious 
faces.  The  blood  was  streaming  from  Duroc's 
neck  and  dyeing  the  grey  fur  of  his  pelisse. 
Such  was  the  lad's  fire,  however,  that  he  shot  in 
front  of  me,  and  it  was  only  over  his  shoulder  that 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  scene  as  we  rushed  into 
the  chamber  in  which  we  had  first  seen  the  master 
of  the  Castle  of  Gloom. 

The  Baron  was  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
room,    with   his   tangled    mane    bristling    like    an 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.     39 

angry  lion.  He  was,  as  I  have  said,  a  huge  man, 
with  enormous  shoulders  ;  and  as  he  stood  there, 
with  his  face  flushed  with  rage  and  his  sword  ad- 
vanced, I  could  not  but  think  that,  in  spite  of  all 
his  villainies,  he  had  a  proper  figure  for  a  grena- 
dier. The  lady  lay  cowering  in  a  chair  behind 
him.  A  weal  across  one  of  her  white  arms  and 
a  dog-whip  upon  the  floor  were  enough  to  show 
that  our  escape  had  hardly  been  in  time  to  save 
her  from  his  brutality.  He  gave  a  howl  like  a 
wolf  as  we  broke  in,  and  was  upon  us  in  an  in- 
stant, hacking  and  driving,  with  a  curse  at  every 
blow. 

I  have  already  said  that  the  room  gave  no 
space  for  swordsmanship.  My  young  companion 
was  in  front  of  me  in  the  narrow  passage  between 
the  table  and  the  wall,  so  that  I  could  only  look 
on  without  being  able  to  aid  him.  The  lad  knew 
something  of  his  weapon,  and  was  as  fierce  and 
active  as  a  wild  cat,  but  in  so  narrow  a  space 
the  weight  and  strength  of  the  giant  gave  him 
the  advantage.  Besides,  he  was  an  admirable 
swordsman.  His  parade  and  riposte  Avere  as 
quick  as  lightning.  Twice  he  touched  Duroc  upon 
the  shoulder,  and  then,  as  the  lad  slipped  up  on  a 


40         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

lunge,  he  whirled  up  his  sword  to  finish  him  be- 
fore he  could  recover  his  feet.  I  was  quicker  than 
he,  however,  and  took  the  cut  upon  the  pommel 
of  my  sabre. 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  I,  "  but  you  have  still  to 
deal  with  Etienne  Gerard." 

He  drew  back  and  leaned  against  the  tapestry- 
covered  wall,  breathing  in  little,  hoarse  gasps,  for 
his  foul  living  was  against  him. 

"  Take  your  breath,"  said  I.  "  I  will  await 
your  convenience." 

"  You  have  no  cause  of  quarrel  against  me,"  he 
panted. 

"  I  owe  you  some  little  attention,"  said  I,  "  for 
having  shut  me  up  in  your  store-room.  Besides,  if 
all  other  were  wanting,  I  see  cause  enough  upon 
that  lady's  arm." 

"  Have  your  way,  then ! "  he  snarled,  and 
leaped  at  me  like  a  madman.  For  a  minute  I 
saw  only  the  blazing  blue  eyes,  and  the  red  glazed 
point  which  stabbed  and  stabbed,  rasping  off  to 
right  or  to  left,  and  yet  ever  back  at  my  throat 
and  my  breast.  I  had  never  thought  that  such 
good  sword-play  was  to  be  found  at  Paris  in  the 
days  of  the  Revolution.      I  do  not    suppose  that 


HOW   HE  CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.    4I 

in  all  my  little  affairs  I  have  met  six  men  who 
had  a  better  knowledge  of  their  weapon.  But  he 
knew  that  I  was  his  master.  He  read  death  in  my 
eyes,  and  I  could  see  that  he  read  it.  The  flush 
died  from  his  face.  His  breath  came  in  shorter 
and  in  thicker  gasps.  Yet  he  fought  on,  even 
after  the  final  thrust  had  come,  and  died  still 
hacking  and  cursing,  with  foul  cries  upon  his  lips, 
and  his  blood  clotting  upon  his  orange  beard.  I 
who  speak  to  you  have  seen  so  many  battles,  that 
my  old  memory  can  scarce  contain  their  names, 
and  yet  of  all  the  terrible  sights  which  these  eyes 
have  rested  upon,  there  is  none  which  I  care  to 
think  of  less  than  of  that  orange  beard  with  the 
crimson  stain  in  the  centre,  from  which  I  had 
drawn  my  sword  point. 

It  was  only  afterwards  that  I  had  time  to  think 
of  all  this.  His  monstrous  body  had  scarcely 
crashed  down  upon  the  floor  before  the  woman 
in  the  corner  sprang  to  her  feet,  clapping  her 
hands  together  and  screaming  out  in  her  delight. 
For  my  part  I  was  disgusted  to  see  a  woman  take 
such  delight  in  a  deed  of  blood,  and  I  gave  no 
thought  as  to  the  terrible  wrongs  which  must  have 
befallen   her  before   she   could   so  far  forget  the 


42         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

gentleness  of  her  sex.  It  was  on  my  tongue  to  tell 
her  sharply  to  be  silent,  when  a  strange,  choking 
smell  took  the  breath  from  my  nostrils,  and  a  sud- 
den, yellow  glare  brought  out  the  figures  upon 
the  faded  hangings. 

"  Duroc,  Duroc !  **  I  shouted,  tugging  at  his 
shoulder.    "  The  Castle  is  on  fire  !  " 

The  boy  lay  senseless  upon  the  ground,  exhaust- 
ed by  his  wounds.  I  rushed  out  into  the  hall  to 
see  whence  the  danger  came.  It  was  our  explo- 
sion which  had  set  a  light  to  the  dry  framework  of 
the  door.  Inside  the  store-room  some  of  the  boxes 
were  already  blazing.  I  glanced  in,  and  as  I  did 
so  my  blood  was  turned  to  water  by  the  sight  of 
the  powder  barrels  beyond,  and  of  the  loose  heap 
upon  the  floor.  It  might  be  seconds,  it  could  not 
be  more  than  minutes,  before  the  flames  would  be 
at  the  edge  of  it.  These  eyes  will  be  closed  in 
death,  my  friends,  before  they  cease  to  see  those 
crawling  lines  of  fire  and  the  black  heap  beyond. 

How  little  I  can  remember  what  followed. 
Vaguely  I  can  recall  how  I  rushed  into  the  cham- 
ber of  death,  how  I  seized  Duroc  by  one  limp 
hand  and  dragged  him  down  the  hall,  the  woman 
keeping  pace  with    me  and    pulling  at   the  other 


D, 

!=l 

O 
O 


HOW   HE   CAME   TO   THE   CASTLE   OF   GLOOM.    43 

arm.  Out  of  the  gateway  we  rushed,  and  on 
down  the  snow-covered  path  until  we  were  on 
the  fringe  of  the  fir  forest.  It  was  at  that  moment 
that  I  heard  a  crash  behind  me,  and,  glancing 
round,  saw  a  great  spout  of  fire  shoot  up  into 
the  wintry  sky.  An  instant  later  there  seemed  to 
come  a  second  crash  far  louder  than  the  first.  I 
saw  the  fir  trees  and  the  stars  whirling  round  me, 
and  I  fell  unconscious  across  the  body  of  my 
comrade. 

It  was  some  weeks  before  I  came  to  myself  in 

the  post-house  of  Arensdorf,  and  longer  still  before 

I  could  be  told  all  that  had  befallen  me.     It  was 

Duroc,  already  able  to  go  soldiering,  who  came  to 

my  bedside  and  gave  me  an  account  of  it.     He  it 

was  who  told  me  how  a  piece  of  timber  had  struck 

me  on  the   head   and   had    laid   me  almost  dead 

upon  the  ground.     From  him,  too,  I  learned  how 

the  Polish  girl  had  run  to  Arensdorf,  how  she  had 

roused   our  hussars,  and    how   she  had   only   just 

brought  them  back  in  time  to  save  us  from  the 

spears  of  the  Cossacks  who  had  been  summoned 

from   their  bivouac   by   that   same  black-bearded 

secretary  whom  we  had  seen  galloping  so  swiftly 
4 


44         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

over  the  snow.  As  to  the  brave  lady  who  had 
twice  saved  our  lives,  I  could  not  learn  very  much 
about  her  at  that  moment  from  Duroc,  but  when 
I  chanced  to  meet  him  in  Paris  two  years  later, 
after  the  campaign  of  Wagram,  I  was  not  very 
much  surprised  to  find  that  I  needed  no  intro- 
duction to  his  bride,  and  that  by  the  queer  turns 
of  fortune  he  had  himself,  had  he  chosen  to  use 
it,  that  very  name  and  title  of  the  Baron  Strau- 
benthal,  which  showed  him  to  be  the  owner  of 
the  blackened  ruins  of  the  Castle  of  Gloom. 


11. 

HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   SLEW   THE 
BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO. 

When  the  Emperor  needed  an  agent  he  was 
always  very  ready  to  do  me  the  honour  of  recall- 
ing the  name  of  Etienne  Gerard,  though  it  occa- 
sionally escaped  him  when  rewards  were  to  be  dis- 
tributed. Still,  I  was  a  colonel  at  twenty-eight, 
and  the  chief  of  a  brigade  at  thirty-one,  so  that  I 
have  no  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  my  career. 
Had  the  wars  lasted  another  two  or  three  years  I 
might  have  grasped  my  baton,  and  the  man  who 
had  his  hand  upon  that  was  only  one  stride  from  a 
throne.  Murat  had  changed  his  hussar's  cap  for 
a  crown,  and  another  light  cavalry  man  might 
have  done  as  much.  However,  all  those  dreams 
were  driven  away  by  Waterloo,  and,  although  I 
was  not  able  to  write  my  name  upon  history,  it  is 
sufficiently  well  known  by  all  who  served  with  me 
in  the  great  wars  of  the  Empire. 


46         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

What  I  want  to  tell  you  to-night  is  about  the 
very  singular  affair  which  first  started  me  upon 
•my  rapid  upward  course,  and  which  had  the  effect 
of  establishing  a  secret  bond  between  the  Emperor 
and  myself.  There  is  just  one  little  word  of  warn- 
ing which  I  must  give  you  before  I  begin.  When 
you  hear  me  speak,  you  must  always  bear  in  mind 
that  you  are  listening  to  one  who  has  seen  history 
from  the  inside.  I  am  talking  about  what  my  ears 
have  heard  and  my  eyes  have  seen,  so  you  must 
not  try  to  confute  me  by  quoting  the  opinions  of 
some  student  or  man  of  the  pen,  who  has  written 
a  book  of  history  or  memoirs.  There  is  much 
which  is  unknown  by  such  people,  and  much 
which  never  will  be  known  by  the  world.  For 
my  own  part,  I  could  tell  you  some  very  surpris- 
ing things  were  it  discreet  to  do  so.  The  facts 
which  I  am  about  to  relate  to  you  to-night  were 
kept  secret  by  me  during  the  Emperor's  lifetime, 
because  I  gave  him  my  promise  that  it  should  be 
so,  but  I  do  not  think  that  there  can  be  any 
harm  now  in  my  telling  the  remarkable  part 
which  I  played. 

You  must  know,  then,  that  at  the  time  of  the 
Treaty  of  Tilsit  I  was  a  simple  lieutenant  in  the 


HOW  HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.    47 

loth  Hussars,  without  money  or  interest.  It  is 
true  that  my  appearance  and  my  gallantry  were  in 
my  favour,  and  that  I  had  already  won  a  reputa- 
tion as  being  one  of  the  best  swordsmen  in  the 
army  ;  but  among  the  host  of  brave  men  who  sur- 
rounded the  Emperor  it  needed  more  than  this  to 
insure  a  rapid  career.  I  was  confident,  however, 
that  my  chance  would  come,  though  I  never 
dreamed  that  it  would  take  so  remarkable  a  form. 
When  the  Emperor  returned  to  Paris,  after  the 
declaration  of  peace  in  the  year  1807,  he  spent  much 
of  his  time  with  the  Empress  and  the  Court  at 
Fontainebleau.  It  was  the  time  when  he  was  at  the 
pinnacle  of  his  career.  He  had  in  three  successive 
campaigns  humbled  Austria,  crushed  Prussia,  and 
made  the  Russians  very  glad  to  get  upon  the  right 
side  of  the  Niemen.  The  old  Bulldog  over  the 
Channel  was  still  growling,  but  he  could  not  get 
very  far  from  his  kennel.  If  we  could  have  made 
a  perpetual  peace  at  that  moment,  France  would 
have  taken  a  higher  place  than  any  nation  since 
the  days  of  the  Romans.  So  I  have  heard  the 
wise  folk  say,  though  for  my  part  I  had  other 
things  to  think  of.  All  the  girls  were  glad  to 
see  the  army  back  after  its  long  absence,  and  you 


48         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

may  be  sure  that  I  had  my  share  of  any  favours 
that  were  going.  You  may  judge  how  far  I  was  a 
favourite  in  those  days  when  I  say  that  even  now, 

in  my   sixtieth  year but  why   should    I  dwell 

upon  that  which  is  already  sufficiently  well 
known  ? 

Our  regiment  of  hussars  was  quartered  with 
the  horse  chasseurs  of  the  guard  at  Fontainebleau. 
It  is,  as  you  know,  but  a  little  place,  buried  in  the 
heart  of  the  forest,  and  it  was  wonderful  at  this 
time  to  see  it  crowded  with  Grand  Dukes  and 
Electors  and  Princes,  who  thronged  round  Napo- 
leon like  puppies  round  their  master,  each  hoping 
that  some  bone  might  be  thrown  to  him.  There 
was  more  German  than  French  to  be  heard  in  the 
street,  for  those  who  had  helped  us  in  the  late  war 
had  come  to  beg  for  a  reward,  and  those  who  had 
opposed  us  had  come  to  try  and  escape  their 
punishment.  And  all  the  time  our  little  man,  with 
his  pale  face  and  his  cold,  grey  eyes,  was  riding  to 
the  hunt  every  morning,  silent  and  brooding,  all 
of  them  following  in  his  train,  in  the  hope  that 
some  word  would  escape  him.  And  then,  when 
the  humour  seized  him,  he  would  throw  a  hundred 
square  miles  to  that  man,  or  tear  as  much  off  the 


HOW   HE  SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF   AJACCIO.    49 

other,  round  off  one  kingdom  by  a  river,  or  cut  off 
another  by  a  chain  of  mountains.  That  was  how 
he  used  to  do  business,  this  little  artilleryman, 
whom  we  had  raised  so  high  with  our  sabres  and 
our  bayonets.  He  was  very  civil  to  us  always,  for 
he  knew  where  his  power  came  from.  We  knew 
also,  and  showed  it  by  the  way  in  which  we  car- 
ried ourselves.  We  were  agreed,  you  understand, 
that  he  was  the  finest  leader  in  the  world,  but 
we  did  not  forget  that  he  had  the  finest  men  to 
lead. 

Well,  one  day  I  was  seated  in  my  quarters 
playing  cards  with  young  Morat,  of  the  horse 
chasseurs,  when  the  door  opened  and  in  walked 
Lasalle,  who  was  our  Colonel.  You  know  what  a 
fine,  swaggering  fellow  he  was,  and  the  sky-blue 
uniform  of  the  Tenth  suited  him  to  a  marvel.  My 
faith,  we  youngsters  were  so  taken  by  him  that  we 
all  swore  and  diced  and  drank  and  played  the 
deuce  whether  we  liked  it  or  no,  just  that  we 
might  resemble  our  Colonel !  We  forgot  that  it 
was  not  because  he  drank  or  gambled  that  the 
Emperor  was  going  to  make  him  the  head  of  the 
light  cavalry,  but  because  he  had  the  surest  eye 
for  the  nature  of  a  position  or  for  the  strength  of 


50         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

a  column,  and  the  best  judgment  as  to  when  in- 
fantry could  be  broken,  or  whether  guns  were  ex- 
posed, of  any  man  in  the  army.  We  were  too 
young  to  understand  all  that,  however,  so  we 
waxed  our  moustaches  and  clinked  our  spurs  and 
let  the  ferrules  of  our  scabbards  wear  out  by  trail- 
ing them  along  the  pavement  in  the  hope  that  we 
should  all  become  Lasalles.  When  he  came  clank- 
ing into  my  quarters,  both  Morat  and  I  sprang  to 
our  feet. 

**  My  boy,"  said  he,  clapping  me  on  the  shoul- 
der, "  the  Emperor  wants  to  see  you  at  four 
o'clock." 

The  room  whirled  round  me  at  the  words,  and 
I  had  to  lean  my  hands  upon  the  edge  of  the 
card-table. 

"  What  ?  "  I  cried.     "  The  Emperor  !  " 

"  Precisely,"  said  he,  smiling  at  my  astonish- 
ment. 

"  But  the  Emperor  does  not  know  of  my  ex- 
istence. Colonel,"  I  protested.  "  Why  should  he 
send  for  me  ?  " 

"  Well,  that's  just  what  puzzles  me,"  cried  La- 
salle,  twirling  his  moustache.  "If  he  wanted  the 
help  of  a  good  sabre,  why  should  he  descend  to 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.     5 1 

one  of  my  lieutenants  when  he  might  have  found 
all  that  he  needed  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  ? 
However,"  he  added,  clapping  me  upon  the  shoul- 
der again  in  his  hearty  fashion,  "  every  man  has 
his  chance.  I  have  had  mine,  otherwise  I  should 
not  be  Colonel  of  the  Tenth.  I  must  not  grudge 
you  yours.  Forwards,  my  boy,  and  may  it  be  the 
first  step  towards  changing  your  busby  for  a 
cocked  hat." 

It  was  but  two  o'clock,  so  he  left  me,  promising 
to  come  back  and  to  accompany  me  to  the  palace. 
My  faith,  what  a  time  I  passed,  and  how  many 
conjectures  did  I  make  as  to  what  it  was  that  the 
Emperor  could  want  of  me !  I  paced  up  and 
down  my  little  room  in  a  fever  of  anticipation. 
Sometimes  I  thought  that  perhaps  he  had  heard 
of  the  guns  which  we  had  taken  at  Austerlitz  ; 
but  then  there  were  so  many  who  had  taken  guns 
at  Austerlitz,  and  two  years  had  passed  since  the 
battle.  Or  it  might  be  that  he  wished  to  reward 
me  for  my  affair  with  the  aide-de-camp  of  the  Rus- 
sian Emperor.  But  then  again  a  cold  fit  would 
seize  me,  and  1  would  fancy  that  he  had  sent  for 
me  to  reprimand  me.  There  were  a  few  duels 
which  he  might  have  taken  in  ill  part,  and  there 


52         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD.. 

were  one  or  two  little  jokes  in  Paris  since  the 
peace. 

But,  no!  I  considered  the  words  of  Lasalle. 
"  If  he  had  need  of  a  brave  man,"  said  Lasalle. 

It  was  obvious  that  my  Colonel  had  some  idea 
of  what  was  in  the  wind.  If  he  had  not  known 
that  it  was  to  my  advantage,  he  would  not  have 
been  so  cruel  as  to  congratulate  me.  My  heart 
glowed  with  joy  as  this  conviction  grew  upon 
me,  and  I  sat  down  to  write  to  my  mother  and 
to  tell  her  that  the  Emperor  was  waiting,  at  that 
very  moment,  to  have  my  opinion  upon  a  rnatter 
of  importance.  It  made  me  smile  as  I  wrote  it 
to  think  that,  wonderful  as  it  appeared  to  me,  it 
would  probably  only  confirm  my  mother  in  her 
opinion  of  the  Emperor's  good  sense. 

At  half-past  three  I  heard  a  sabre  come  clank- 
ing against  every  step  of  my  wooden  stair.  It 
was  Lasalle,  and  with  him  was  a  lame  gentleman, 
very  neatly  dressed  in  black  with  dapper  ruffles  and 
cuffs.  We  did  not  know  many  civilians,  we  of  the 
army,  but,  my  word,  this  was  one  whom  we  could 
not  afford  to  ignore !  I  had  only  to  glance  at 
those  twinkling  eyes,  the  comical,  upturned  nose, 
and  the  straight,  precise    mouth,  to   know  that   I 


HOW   HE   SLEW  THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.     53 

was  ill  the  presence  of  the  one  man  in  France 
whom  even  the  Emperor  had  to  consider. 

"This  is  Monsieur  Etienne  Gerard,  Monsieur 
de  Talleyrand,"  said  Lasalle. 

I  saluted,  and  the  statesman  took  me  in  from 
the  top  of  my  panache  to  the  rowel  of  my  spur, 
with  a  glance  that  played  over  me  like  a  rapier 
point. 

"  Have  you  explained  to  the  Lieutenant  the 
circumstances  under  which  he  is  summoned  to  the 
Emperor's  presence?"  he  asked,  in  his  dry,  creak- 
ing voice. 

They  were  such  a  contrast,  these  two  men, 
that  I  could  not  help  glancing  from  one  to  the 
other  of  them :  the  little,  black,  sly  politician,  and 
the  big,  sky-blue  hussar,  with  one  fist  on  his  hip 
and  the  other  on  the  hilt  of  his  sabre.  They  both 
took  their  seats  as  I  looked,  Talleyrand  without  a 
sound,  and  Lasalle  with  a  clash  and  jingle  like  a 
prancing  charger. 

'*  It's  this  way,  youngster,"  said  he,  in  his 
brusque  fashion ;  "  I  was  with  the  Emperor  in  his 
private  cabinet  this  morning  when  a  note  was 
brought  in  to  him.  He  opened  it,  and  as  he  did 
so  he  gave  such  a  start  that  it  fluttered  down  on 


54         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

to  the  floor.  I  handed  it  up  to  him  again,  but  he 
was  staring  at  the  wall  in  front  of  him  as  if  he 
had  seen  a  ghost.  '  Fratelli  dell'  Ajaccio,'  he  mut- 
tered ;  and  then  again,  '  Fratelli  del*  Ajaccio.*  I 
don't  pretend  to  know  more  Italian  than  a  man 
can  pick  up  in  two  campaigns,  and  1  could  make 
nothing  of  this.  It  seemed  to  me  that  he  had 
gone  out  of  his  mind  ;  and  you  would  have  said 
so  also,  Monsieur  de  Talleyrand,  if  you  had  seen 
the  look  in  his  eyes.  He  read  the  note,  and  then 
he  sat  for  half  an  hour  or  more  without  mov- 
ing." 

"  And  you  ?  "  asked  Talleyrand. 

"  Why,  I  stood  there  not  knowing  what  I  ought 
to  do.  Presently  he  seemed  to  come  back  to  his 
senses. 

"*I  suppose,  Lasalle,'  said  he,  'that  you  have 
some  gallant  young  officers  in  the  Tenth?' 

"  *  They  are  all  that,  sire,'  I  answered. 

"  *  If  you  had  to  pick  one  who  was  to  be  de- 
pended upon  for  action,  but  who  would  not  think 
too  much — you  understand  me,  Lasalle — which 
would  you  select?'  he  asked. 

"  I  saw  that  he  needed  an  agent  who  would 
not  penetrate  too  deeply  into  his  plans. 


He  roared  wilh  laughter. 


HOW   HE  SLEW  THE   BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.     55 

" '  I  have  one,*  said  I,  *  who  is  all  spurs  and 
moustaches,  with  never  a  thought  beyond  women 
and  horses.' 

"  *  That  is  the  man  I  want,'  said  Napoleon. 
*  Bring  him  to  my  private  cabinet  at  four  o'clock.' 

"  So,  youngster,  I  came  straight  away  to  you 
at  once,  and  mind  that  you  do  credit  to  the  loth 
Hussars." 

I  was  by  no  means  flattered  by  the  reasons 
which  had  led  to  my  Colonel's  choice,  and  I  must 
have  shown  as  much  in  my  face,  for  he  roared 
with  laughter  and  Talleyrand  gave  a  dry  chuckle 
also. 

"  Just  one  word  of  advice  before  you  go.  Mon- 
sieur Gerard,"  said  he:  **you  are  now  coming 
into  troubled  waters,  and  you  might  find  a  worse 
pilot  than  myself.  We  have  none  of  us  any  idea 
as  to  what  this  little  affair  means,  and,  between 
ourselves,  it  is  very  important  for  us,  who  have 
the  destinies  of  France  upon  our  shoulders,  to 
keep  ourselves  in  touch  with  all  that  goes  on. 
You  understand  me,  Monsieur  Gerard  ? " 

I  had  not  the  least  idea  what  he  was  driving 
at,  but  1  bowed  and  tried  to  look  as  if  it  was  clear 
to  me. 


$6         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  Act  very  guardedly,  then,  and  say  nothing 
to  anybody,"  said  Talleyrand.  "  Colonel  de  Lasalle 
and  I  will  not  show  ourselves  in  public  with  you, 
but  we  will  await  you  here,  and  we  will  give  you 
our  advice  when  you  have  told  us  what  has 
passed  between  the  Emperor  and  yourself.  It  is 
time  that  you  started  now,  for  the  Emperor  never 
forgives  unpunctuality." 

Off  I  went  on  foot  to  the  palace,  which  was 
only  a  hundred  paces  off.  I  made  my  way  to  the 
antechamber,  where  Duroc,  with  his  grand  new 
scarlet  and  gold  coat,  was  fussing  about  among 
the  crowd  of  people  who  were  waiting.  I  heard 
him  whisper  to  Monsieur  de  Caulaincourt  that 
half  of  them  were  German  Dukes  who  expected 
to  be  made  Kings,  and  the  other  half  German 
Dukes  who  expected  to  be  made  paupers.  Du- 
roc, when  he  heard  my  name,  showed  me  straight 
in,  and  I  found  myself  in  the  Emperor's  pres- 
ence. 

I  had,  of  course,  seen  him  in  camp  a  hundred 
times,  but  I  had  never  been  face  to  face  with  him 
before.  I  have  no  doubt  that  if  you  had  met  him 
without  knowing  in  the  least  who  he  was,  you 
would    simply    have    said    that    he  was    a    sallow 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF   AjAv. 

little  fellow  with  a  good  forehead  and  fairly  weii- 
turned  calves.  His  tight  white  cashmere  breeches 
and  white  stockings  showed  off  his  legs  to  advan- 
tage. But  even  a  stranger  must  have  been  struck 
by  the  singular  look  of  his  eyes,  which  could 
harden  into  an  expression  which  would  frighten 
a  grenadier.  It  is  said  that  even  Auguereau,  who 
was  a  man  who  had  never  known  what  fear  was, 
quailed  before  Napoleon's  gaze,  at  a  time,  too, 
when  the  Emperor  was  but  an  unknown  soldier. 
He  looked  mildly  enough  at  me,  however,  and 
motioned  me  to  remain  by  the  door.  De  Mene- 
val  was  writing  to  his  dictation,  looking  up  at 
him  between  each  sentence  with  his  spaniel  eyes. 
"  That  will  do.  You  can  go,"  said  the  Emper- 
or, abruptly.  Then,  when  the  secretary  had  left 
the  room,  he  strode  across  with  his  hands  behind 
his  back,  and  he  looked  me  up  and  down  without 
a  word.  Though  he  was  a  small  man  himself,  he 
was  very  fond  of  having  fine-looking  fellows  about 
him,  and  so  I  think  that  my  appearance  gave  him 
pleasure.  For  my  own  part,  I  raised  one  hand 
to  the  salute  and  held  the  other  upon  the  hilt  of 
my  sabre,  looking  straight  ahead  of  me,  as  a  sol- 
dier should. 


^8         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

**  Well,  Monsieur  Gerard,"  said  he,  at  last,  tap- 
ping his  forefinger  upon  one  of  the  brandebourgs 
of  gold  braid  upon  the  front  of  my  pelisse,  ''  I  am 
informed  that  you  are  a  very  deserving  young 
officer.  Your  Colonel  gives  me  an  excellent  ac- 
count of  you." 

I  wished  to  make  a  brilliant  reply,  but  I 
could  think  of  nothing  save  Lasalle's  phrase  that 
I  was  all  spurs  and  moustaches,  so  it  ended  in  my 
saying  nothing  at  all.  The  Emperor  watched  the 
struggle  which  must  have  shown  itself  upon  my 
features,  and  when,  finally,  no  answer  came  he  did 
not  appear  to  be  displeased. 

"  I  believe  that  you  are  the  very  man  that  I 
want,"  said  he.     "  Brave  and  clever  men  surround 

me  upon  every  side.     But  a  brave  man  who " 

He  did  not  finish  his  sentence,  and  for  my  own 
part  I  could  not  understand  what  he  was  driving 
at.  I  contented  myself  with  assuring  him  that  he 
could  count  upon  me  to  the  death. 

"  You  are,  as  I  understand,  a  good  swords- 
man ?  "  said  he. 

*'  Tolerable,  sire,"  I  answered. 

"  You  were  chosen  by  your  regiment  to  fight  the 
champion  of  the  Hussars  of  Chambarant?"  said  he. 


HOW   HE  SLEW   THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.     59 

I  was  not  sorry  to  find  that  he  knew  so  much 
of  my  exploits. 

"  My  comrades,  sire,  did  me  that  honour," 
said  I. 

"  And  for  the  sake  of  practice  you  insulted 
six  fencing  masters  in  the  week  before  your 
duel  ?  •• 

"  I  had  the  privilege  of  being  out  seven  times 
in  as  many  days,  sire,"  said  I. 

"  And  escaped  without  a  scratch  ?  " 

"  The  fencing  master  of  the  23rd  Light  Infantry 
touched  me  on  the  left  elbow,  sire." 

"  Let  us  have  no  more  child's  play  of  the  sort, 
monsieur,"  he  cried,  turning  suddenly  to  that  cold 
rage  of  his  which  was  so  appalling.  "  Do  you  im- 
agine that  I  place  veteran  soldiers  in  these  posi- 
tions that  you  may  practise  quarte  and  tierce 
upon  them?  How  am  I  to  face  Europe  if  my 
soldiers  turn  their  points  upon  each  other?  An- 
other word  of  your  duelling,  and  I  break  you  be- 
tween these  fingers." 

I  saw  his  plump  white  hands  flash  before  my 
eyes  as  he  spoke,  and  his  voice  had  turned  to  the 
most  discordant  hissing  and  growling.  My  word, 
my  skin  pringled  all  over  as  I  listened  to  him,  and 


6o         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

I  would  gladly  have  changed  my  position  for  that 
of  the  first  man  in  the  steepest  and  narrowest 
breach  that  ever  swallowed  up  a  storming  party. 
He  turned  to  the  table,  drank  off  a  cup  of  coffee, 
and  then  when  he  faced  me  again  every  trace  of 
this  storm  had  vanished,  and  he  wore  that  singu* 
lar  smile  which  came  from  his  lips  but  never  from 
his  eyes. 

"  I  have  need  of  your  services,  Monsieur  Ge- 
rard," said  he.  "  I  may  be  safer  with  a  good  sword 
at  my  side,  and  there  are  reasons  why  yours 
should  be  the  one  which  I  select.  But  first  of 
all  I  must  bind  you  to  secrecy.  Whilst  I  live 
what  passes  between  us  to-day  must  be  known  to 
none  but  ourselves." 

I  thought  of  Talleyrand  and  of  Lasalle,  but  I 
promised. 

*'  In  the  next  place,  I  do  not  want  your  opin- 
ions or  conjectures,  and  I  wish  you  to  do  exactly 
what  you  are  told." 

I  bowed. 

**  It  is  your  sword  that  I  need,  and  not  your 
brains.  I  will  do  the  thinking.  Is  that  clear  to 
you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sire." 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF   AJACCIO.     6l 

**  You  know  the  Chancellor's  Grove,  in  the 
forest  ?  " 

I  bowed. 

"  You  know  also  the  large  double  fir-tree  where 
the  hounds  assembled  on  Tuesday  ?  " 

Had  he  known  that  I  met  a  girl  under  it  three 
times  a  week,  he  would  not  have  asked  me.  I 
bowed  once  more  without  remark. 

**  Very  good.  You  will  meet  me  there  at  ten 
o'clock  to-night." 

I  had  got  past  being  surprised  at  anything 
which  might  happen.  If  he  had  asked  me  to  take 
his  place  upon  the  Imperial  throne  I  could  only 
have  nodded  my  busby. 

"  We  shall  then  proceed  into  the  wood  to- 
gether," said  the  Emperor.  "  You  will  be  armed 
with  a  sword,  but  not  with  pistols.  You  must  ad- 
dress no  remark  to  me,  and  I  shall  say  nothing  to 
you.  We  will  advance  in  silence.  You  under- 
stand ? " 

"  I  understand,  sire." 

"  After  a  time  we  shall  see  a  man,  or  more 
probably  two  men,  under  a  certain  tree.  We  shall 
approach  them  together.  If  I  signal  to  you  to 
defend  me,  you  will  have  your  sword  ready.     If, 


62  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

on  the  other  hand,  I  speak  to  these  men,  you  will 
wait  and  see  what  happens.  If  you  are  called 
upon  to  draw,  you  must  see  that  neither  of  them, 
in  the  event  of  there  being  two,  escapes  from  us. 
I  shall  myself  assist  you." 

"  But,  sire,"  I  cried,  ''  I  have  no  doubt  that  two 
would  not  be  too  many  for  my  sword  ;  but  would 
it  not  be  better  that  I  should  bring  a  comrade 
than  that  you  should  be  forced  to  join  in  such  a 
struggle  ?  " 

"  Ta,  ta,  ta,"  said  he.  "  I  was  a  soldier  before  I 
was  an  Emperor.  Do  you  think,  then,  that  artil- 
lerymen have  not  swords  as  well  as  the  hussars  ? 
But  I  ordered  you  not  to  argue  with  me.  You 
will  do  exactly  what  I  tell  you.  If  swords  are 
once  out,  neither  of  these  men  is  to  get  away 
alive." 

"  They  shall  not,  sire,"  said  I. 

'  Very  good.  I  have  no  more  instructions  for 
you.     You  can  go." 

I  turned  to  the  door,  and  then  an  idea  occur- 
ring to  me  I  turned. 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  sire "  said  I. 

He  sprang  at  me  with  the  ferocity  of  a  wild 
beast.     I  really  thought  he  would  have  struck  me. 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.     63 

"  Thinking  !  "  he  cried.  "  You,  you  !  Do  you 
imagine  I  chose  you  out  because  you  could  think  ? 
Let  me  hear  of  your  doing  such  a  thing  again  ! 
You,  the  one  man — but,  there  !  You  meet  me  at 
the  fir-tree  at  ten  o'clock." 

My  faith,  I  was  right  glad  to  get  out  of  the 
room.  If  I  have  a  good  horse  under  me,  and  a 
sword  clanking  against  my  stirrup-iron,  I  know 
where  I  am.  And  in  all  that  relates  to  green 
fodder  or  dry,  barley  and  oats  and  rye,  and  the 
handling  of  squadrons  upon  the  march,  there  is  no 
one  who  can  teach  me  very  much.  But  when  I 
meet  a  Chamberlain  and  a  Marshal  of  the  Palace, 
and  have  to  pick  my  words  with  an  Emperor,  and 
find  that  everybody  hints  instead  of  talking  straight 
out,  I  feel  like  a  troop-horse  who  has  been  put  in 
a  lady's  caliche.  It  is  not  my  trade,  all  this  min- 
cing and  pretending.  I  have  learned  the  manners 
of  a  gentleman,  but  never  those  of  a  courtier.  I 
was  right  glad  then  to  get  into  the  fresh  air  again, 
and  I  ran  away  up  to  my  quarters  like  a  schoolboy 
who  has  just  escaped  from  the  seminary  master. 

But  as  I  opened  the  door,  the  very  first  thing 
that  my  eye  rested  upon  was  a  long  pair  of  sky- 
blue  legs  with  hussar  boots,  and  a  short  pair  of 


64         THE  EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

black  ones  with  knee-breeches  and  buckles.  They 
both  sprang  up  together  to  greet  me. 

"  Well,  what  news  ?  "  they  cried,  the  two  of 
them. 

"  None,"  I  answered. 

"  The  Emperor  refused  to  see  you  ?  ** 

*'  No,  I  have  seen  him," 

"  And  what  did  he  say  ?  " 

*♦  Monsieur  de  Talleyrand,"  I  answered,  "  I  re- 
gret to  say  that  it  is  quite  impossible  for  me  to 
tell  you  anything  about  it.  I  have  promised  the 
Emperor." 

"  Pooh,  pooh,  my  dear  young  man,"  said  he, 
sidling  up  to  me,  as  a  cat  does  when  it  is  about  to 
rub  itself  against  you.  "  This  is  all  among  friends, 
you  understand,  and  goes  no  farther  than  these 
four  walls.  Besides,  the  Emperor  never  meant  to 
include  me  in  this  promise." 

"  It  is  but  a  minute's  walk  to  the  palace.  Mon- 
sieur de  Talleyrand,"  I  answered  ;  "  if  it  would 
not  be  troubling  you  too  much  to  ask  you  to  step 
up  to  it  and  bring  back  the  Emperor's  written 
statement  that  he  did  not  mean  to  include  you  in 
this  promise,  I  shall  be  happy  to  tell  you  every 
word  that  passed." 


HOW   HE   SLEW  THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.    65 

He  showed  his  teeth  at  me  then  like  the  old 
fox  that  he  was. 

"  Monsieur  Gerard  appears  to  be  a  little  puffed 
up,"  said  he.  "  He  is  too  young  to  see  things  in 
their  just  proportion.  As  he  grows  older  he  may 
understand  that  it  is  not  always  very  discreet  for 
a  subaltern  of  cavalry  to  give  such  very  abrupt 
refusals." 

I  did  not  know  what  to  say  to  this,  but  Lasalle 
came  to  my  aid  in  his  downright  fashion. 

"  The  lad  is  quite  right,"  said  he.  ''  If  I  had 
known  that  there  was  a  promise  I  should  not  have 
questioned  him.  You  know  very  well.  Monsieur 
de  Talleyrand,  that  if  he  had  answered  you, 
you  would  have  laughed  in  your  sleeve  and 
thought  as  much  about  him  as  I  think  of  the 
bottle  when  the  burgundy  is  gone.  As  for  me,  I 
promise  you  that  the  Tenth  would  have  had  no 
room  for  him,  and  that  we  should  have  lost  our 
best  swordsman  if  I  had  heard  him  give  up  the 
Emperor's  secret." 

But  the  statesman  became  only  the  more  bit- 
ter when  he  saw  that  I  had  the  support  of  my 
Colonel. 

"  I  have  heard,  Colonel   de   Lasalle,"   said   he, 


66         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD.     '     - 

with  an  icy  dignity,  *'  that  your  opinion  is  of  great 
weight  upon  the  subject  of  light  cavalry.  Should 
I  have  occasion  to  seek  information  about  that 
branch  of  the  army,  I  shall  be  very  happy  to 
apply  to  you.  At  present,  however,  the  matter  con- 
cerns diplomacy,  and  you  will  permit  me  to  form 
my  own  views  upon  that  question.  As  long  as 
the  welfare  of  France  and  the  safety  of  the  Em- 
peror's person  are  largely  committed  to  my  care, 
I  will  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  secure 
them,  even  if  it  should  be  against  the  Emperor's 
own  temporary  wishes.  I  have  the  honour.  Colo- 
nel de  Lasalle,  to  wish  you  a  very  good-day!" 

He  shot  a  most  unamiable  glance  in  my  direc- 
tion, and,  turning  upon  his  heel,  he  walked  with 
little,  quick,  noiseless  steps  out  of  the  room. 

I  could  see  from  Lasalle's  face  that  he  did  not 
at  all  relish  finding  himself  at  enmity  with  the 
powerful  Minister.  He  rapped  out  an  oath  or 
two,  and  then,  catching  up  his  sabre  and  his  cap, 
he  clattered  away  down  the  stairs.  As  I  looked 
out  of  the  window  I  saw  the  two  of  them,  the 
big  blue  man  and  the  Hmping  black  one,  going 
up  the  street  together.  Talleyrand  was  walking 
very  rigidly,  and    Lasalle  was  waving   his   hands 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.    67 

and  talking-,  so    I  suppose    that   he  was  trying  to 
make  his  peace. 

The  Emperor  had  told  me  not  to  think,  and 
I  endeavoured  to  obey  him.  I  took  up  the  cards 
from  the  table  where  Morat  had  left  them,  and  I 
tried  to  work  out  a  few  combinations  at  6carte. 
But  I  could  not  remember  which  were  trumps, 
and  I  threw  them  under  the  table  in  despair. 
Then  I  drew  my  sabre  and  practised  giving  point 
until  I  was  weary,  but  it  was  all  of  no  use  at  all. 
My  mind  would  work,  in  spite  of  myself.  At  ten 
o'clock  I  was  to  meet  the  Emperor  in  the  forest. 
Of  all  extraordinary  combinations  of  events  in  the 
whole  world,  surely  this  was  the  last  which  would 
have  occurred  to  me  when  I  rose  from  my  couch 
that  morning.  But  the  responsibility — the  dread- 
ful responsibility !  It  was  all  upon  my  shoulders. 
There  was  no  one  to  halve  it  with  me.  It  made  m« 
cold  all  over.  Often  as  I  have  faced  death  upon 
the  battle-field,  I  have  never  known  what  real 
fear  was  until  that  moment.  But  then  I  consid^ 
ered  that  after  all  I  could  but  do  my  best  like  a 
brave  and  honourable  gentleman,  and  above  all 
obey  the  orders  which  I  had  received,  to  the 
very   letter.     And,   if  all   went   well,   this   would 


68  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

surely  be  the  foundation  of  my  fortunes.  Thus, 
swaying  between  my  fears  and  my  hopes,  I  spent 
the  long,  long  evening  until  it  was  time  for  me 
to  keep  my  appointment. 

I  put  on  my  military  overcoat,  as  I  did  not 
know  how  much  of  the  night  I  might  have  to 
spend  in  the  woods,  and  I  fastened  my  sword 
outside  it.  I  pulled  off  my  hussar  boots  also,  and 
wore  a  pair  of  shoes  and  gaiters,  that  I  might  be 
lighter  upon  my  feet.  Then  I  stole  out  of  my 
quarters  and  made  for  the  forest,  feeling  very 
much  easier  in  my  mind,  for  I  am  always  at  my 
best  when  the  time  of  thought  has  passed  and  the 
moment  for  action  arrived. 

I  passed  the  barracks  of  the  Chasseurs  of  the 
Guards,  and  the  line  of  cafes  all  filled  with  uni- 
forms. I  caught  a  glimpse  as  I  went  by  of  the 
blue  and  gold  of  some  of  my  comrades,  amid  the 
swarm  of  dark  infantry  coats  and  the  light  green 
of  the  Guides.  There  they  sat,  sipping  their  wine 
and  smoking  their  cigars,  little  dreaming  what 
their  comrade  had  on  hand.  One  of  them,  the 
chief  of  my  squadron,  caught  sight  of  me  in  the 
lamplight,  and  came  shouting  after  me  into  the 
street.     I  hurried  on,  however,  pretending  not  to 


The  Emperor  was  pacing  up  and  down. 


HOW  HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.     69 

hear  him,  so  he,  with  a  curse  at  my  deafness,  went 
back  at  last  to  his  wine  bottle. 

It  is  not  very  hard  to  get  into  the  forest  at 
Fontainebleau.  The  scattered  trees  steal  their 
way  into  the  very  streets,  like  the  tirailleurs  in 
front  of  a  column.  I  turned  into  a  path,  which 
led  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  then  I  pushed 
rapidly  forward  towards  the  old  fir-tree.  It  was 
a  place  which,  as  I  have  hinted,  I  had  my  own 
reasons  for  knowing  well,  and  I  could  only  thank 
the  Fates  that  it  was  not  one  of  the  nights  upon 
which  Leonie  would  be  waiting  for  me.  The  poor 
child  would  have  died  of  terror  at  sight  of  the 
Emperor.  He  might  have  been  too  harsh  with 
her — and  worse  still,  he  might  have  been  too 
kind. 

There  was  a  half  moon  shining,  and  as  I  came 
up  to  our  trysting-place,  I  saw  that  I  was  not  the 
first  to  arrive.  The  Emperor  was  pacing  up  and 
down,  his  hands  behind  him  and  his  face  sunk 
somewhat  forward  upon  his  breast.  He  wore  a 
grey  great-coat  with  a  capote  over  his  head.  I 
had  seen  him  in  such  a  dress  in  our  winter  cam- 
paign in  Poland,  and  it  was  said  that  he  used  it 
because  the  hood  was  such  an  excellent  disguise. 


70         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

He  was  always  fond,  whether  in  the  camp  or  in 
Paris,  of  walking  round  at  night,  and  overhearing 
the  talk  in  the  cabarets  or  round  the  fires.  His 
figure,  however,  and  his  way  of  carrying  his  head 
and  his  hands,  were  so  well  known  that  he  was 
always  recognised,  and  then  the  talkers  would 
just  say  whatever  they  thought  would  please  him 
best. 

My  first  thought  was  that  he  would  be  angry 
with  me  for  having  kept  him  waiting,  but  as  I 
approached  him,  we  heard  the  big  church  clock 
of  Fontainebleau  clang  out  the  hour  of  ten.  It  was 
evident,  therefore,  that  it  was  he  who  was  too 
soon,  and  not  I  too  late.  I  remembered  his  order 
that  I  should  make  no  remark,  so  contented  my- 
self with  halting  within  four  paces  of  him,  click- 
ing my  spurs  together,  grounding  my  sabre,  and 
saluting.  He  glanced  at  me,  and  then  without  a 
word  he  turned  and  walked  slowly  through  the 
forest,  I  keeping  always  about  the  same  distance 
behind  him.  Once  or  twice  he  seemed  to  me  to 
look  apprehensively  to  right  and  to  left,  as  if  he 
feared  that  someone  was  observing  us.  I  looked 
also,  but  although  I  have  the  keenest  sight,  it  was 
quite  impossible  to  see  anything  except  the  ragged 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.     /I 

patches  of  moonshine  between  the  great  black 
shadows  of  the  trees.  My  ears  are  as  quick  as 
my  eyes,  and  once  or  twice  I  thought  that  I  heard 
a  twig  crack ;  but  you  know  how  many  sounds 
there  are  in  a  forest  at  night,  and  how  difficult 
it  is  even  to  say  what  direction  they  come  from. 

We  walked  for  rather  more  than  a  mile,  and 
I  knew  exactly  what  our  destination  was,  long 
before  we  got  there.  In  the  centre  of  one  of  the 
glades  there  is  a  shattered  stump  of  what  must 
at  some  time  have  been  a  most  gigantic  tree.  It 
is  called  the  Abbot's  Beech,  and  there  are  so  many 
ghostly  stories  about  it,  that  I  know  many  a  brave 
soldier  who  would  not  care  about  mounting  sen- 
tinel over  it.  However,  I  cared  as  little  for  such 
folly  as  the  Emperor  did,  so  we  crossed  the  glade 
and  made  straight  for  the  old  broken  trunk.  As 
we  approached,  I  saw  that  two  men  were  waiting 
for  us  beneath  it. 

When  I  first  caught  sight  of  them  they  were 
standing  rather  behind  it,  as  if  they  were  not 
anxious  to  be  seen,  but  as  we  came  nearer  they 
emerged  from  its  shadow  and  walked  forward  to 
meet  us.  The  Emperor  glanced  back  at  me,  and 
slackened  his  pace  a  little,  so  that  I  came  within 


72         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

arm's  length  of  him.  You  may  think  that  I  had 
my  hilt  well  to  the  front,  and  that  I  had  a  very 
good  look  at  these  two  people  who  were  approach- 
ing us.  The  one  was  tall,  remarkably  so,  and  of 
a  very  spare  frame,  while  the  other  was  rather 
below  the  usual  height,  and  had  a  brisk,  deter- 
mined way  of  walking.  They  each  wore  black 
cloaks,  which  were  slung  right  across  their  figures, 
and  hung  down  upon  one  side,  like  the  mantles 
of  Murat's  dragoons.  They  had  flat  black  caps, 
like  those  which  I  have  since  seen  in  Spain,  which 
threw  their  faces  into  darkness,  though  I  could 
see  the  gleam  of  their  eyes  from  beneath  them. 
With  the  moon  behind  them  and  their  long  black 
shadows  walking  in  front,  they  were  such  fig- 
ures as  one  might  expect  to  meet  at  night  near 
the  Abbot's  Beech.  I  can  remember  that  they 
had  a  stealthy  way  of  moving,  and  that  as  they 
approached,  the  moonshine  formed  two  white  dia- 
monds between  their  legs  and  the  legs  of  their 
shadows. 

The  Emperor  had  paused,  and  these  two 
strangers  came  to  a  stand  also  within  a  few  paces 
of  us.  I  had  drawn  up  close  to  my  companion's 
elbow,  so   that   the   four   of  us    were  facing  each 


HOW   HE   SLEW  THE   BROTHERS   OF  AJACCIO.     73 

Other  without  a  word  spoken.  My  eyes  were  par- 
ticularly fixed  upon  the  taller  one,  because  he  was 
slightly  the  nearer  to  me,  and  I  became  certain 
as  I  watched  him  that  he  was  in  the  last  state 
of  nervousness.  His  lean  figure  was  quivering  all 
over,  and  I  heard  a  quick,  thin  panting  like  that 
of  a  tired  dog.  Suddenly  one  of  them  gave  a 
short,  hissing  signal.  The  tall  man  bent  his  back 
and  his  knees  like  a  diver  about  to  spring,  but 
before  he  could  move,  I  had  jumped  with  drawn 
sabre  in  front  of  him.  At  the  same  instant  the 
smaller  man  bounded  past  me,  and  buried  a  long 
poniard  in  the  Emperor's  heart. 

My  God !  the  horror  of  that  moment !  It  is 
a  marvel  that  I  did  not  drop  dead  myself.  As  in 
a  dream,  I  saw  the  grey  coat  whirl  convulsively 
round,  and  caught  a  glimpse  in  the  moonlight  of 
three  inches  of  red  point  which  jutted  out  from 
between  the  shoulders.  Then  down  he  fell  with 
a  dead  man's  gasp  upon  the  grass,  and  the  assas- 
sin, leaving  his  weapon  buried  in  his  victim,  threw 
up  both  his  hands  and  shrieked  with  joy.  But  I — 
I  drove  my  sword  through  his  midriff  with  such 
frantic  force,  that  the  mere  blow  of  the  hilt  against 
the  end  of  his  breast-bone  sent  him  six  paces  be- 


74        THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

fore  he  fell,  and  left  my  reeking  blade  ready  for 
the  other.  I  sprang  round  upon  him  with  such  a 
lust  for  blood  upon  me  as  I  had  never  felt,  and 
never  have  felt,  in  all  my  days.  As  I  turned,  a 
dagger  flashed  before  my  eyes,  and  I  felt  the  cold 
wind  of  it  pass  my  neck  and  the  villain's  wrist 
jar  upon  my  shoulder.  I  shortened  my  sword, 
but  he  winced  away  from  me,  and  an  instant  after- 
wards was  in  full  flight,  bounding  like  a  deer 
across  the  glade  in  the  moonlight. 

But  he  was  not  to  escape  me  thus.  I  knew 
that  the  murderer's  poniard  had  done  its  work. 
Young  as  I  was,  I  had  seen  enough  of  war  to 
know  a  mortal  blow.  I  paused  but  for  an  instant 
to  touch  the  cold  hand. 

"  Sire  !  Sire  ! "  I  cried,  in  an  agony ;  and  then 
as  no  sound  came  back  and  nothing  moved,  save 
an  ever-widening  dark  circle  in  the  moonlight,  1 
knew  that  all  was  indeed  over.  I  sprang  madly 
to  my  feet,  threw  off  my  great-coat,  and  ran 
at  the  top  of  my  speed  after  the  remaining  as- 
sassin. 

Ah,  how  I  blessed  the  wisdom  which  had 
caused  me  to  come  in  shoes  and  gaiters  !  And 
the  happy  thought  which  had  thrown  off  my  coat. 


HOW   HE   SLEW  THE   BROTHERS  OF   AJACCIO.    7$ 

He  could  not  get  rid  of  his  mantle,  this  wretch, 
or  else  he  was  too  frightened  to  think  of  it.  So 
it  was  that  I  gained  upon  him  from  the  begin- 
ning. He  must  have  been  out  of  his  wits,  for  he 
never  tried  to  bury  himself  in  the  darker  parts 
of  the  woods,  but  he  flew  on  from  glade  to  glade, 
until  he  came  to  the  heath-land  which  leads  up 
to  the  great  Fontainebleau  quarry.  There  I  had 
him  in  full  sight,  and  knew  that  he  could  not 
escape  me.  He  ran  well,  it  is  true — ran  as  a 
coward  runs  when  his  life  is  the  stake.  But  I  ran 
as  Destiny  runs  when  it  gets  behind  a  man's  heels. 
Yard  by  yard  I  drew  in  upon  him.  He  was  roll- 
ing and  staggering.  I  could  hear  the  rasping  and 
crackling  of  his  breath.  The  great  gulf  of  the 
quarry  suddenly  yawned  in  front  of  his  path,  and 
glancing  at  me  over  his  shoulder,  he  gave  a  shriek 
of  despair.  The  next  instant  he  had  vanished 
from  my  sight. 

Vanished  utterly,  you  understand.  I  rushed 
to  the  spot,  and  gazed  down  into  the  black  abyss. 
Had  he  hurled  himself  over?  I  had  almost  made 
up  my  mind  that  he  had  done  so,  when  a  gentle 
sound  rising  and  falling  came  out  of  the  darkness 
beneath  me.     It  was  his  breathing  once  more,  and 


76         THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

it  showed  me  where  he  must  be.     He  was  hiding 
in  the  tool-house. 

At  the  edge  of  the  quarry  and  beneath  the 
summit  there  is  a  small  platform  upon  which 
stands  a  wooden  hut  for  the  use  of  the  labourers. 
It  was  into  this,  then,  that  he  had  darted.  Per- 
haps he  had  thought,  the  fool,  that,  in  the  dark- 
ness,  I  would  not  venture  to  follow  him.  He  little 
knew  Etienne  Gerard.  With  a  spring  I  was  on 
the  platform,  with  another  I  was  through  the 
doorway,  and  then,  hearing  him  in  the  corner,  I 
hurled  myself  down  upon  the  top  of  him. 

He  fought  like  a  wild  cat,  but  he  never  had  a 
chance  with  his  shorter  weapon.  I  think  that  I 
must  have  transfixed  him  with  that  first  mad 
lunge,  for,  though  he  struck  and  struck,  his  blows 
had  no  power  in  them,  and  presently  his  dagger 
tinkled  down  upon  the  floor.  When  I  was  sure 
that  he  was  dead,  I  rose  up  and  passed  out  into 
the  moonlight.  I  climbed  up  on  to  the  heath 
again,  and  wandered  across  it  as  nearly  out  of  my 
mind  as  a  man  could  be.  With  the  blood  singing 
in  my  ears,  and  my  naked  sword  still  clutched  in 
my  hand,  I  walked  aimlessly  on  until,  looking 
round  me,  I  found  that  I  had  come  as  far  as  the 


HOW  HE  SLEW  THE  BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.    ^7 

glade  of  the  Abbot's  Beech,  and  saw  in  the  dis- 
tance that  gnarled  stump  which  must  ever  be 
associated  with  the  most  terrible  moment  of  my 
life.  I  sat  down  upon  a  fallen  trunk  with  my 
sword  across  my  knees  and  my  head  between  my 
hands,  and  I  tried  to  think  about  what  had  hap- 
pened and  what  would  happen  in  the  future. 

The  Emperor  had  committed  himself  to  my 
care.  The  Emperor  was  dead.  Those  were  the 
two  thoughts  which  clanged  in  my  head,  until  1 
had  no  room  for  any  other  ones.  He  had  come 
with  me  and  he  was  dead.  I  had  done  what  he 
had  ordered  when  living.  I  had  revenged  him 
when  dead.  But  what  of  all  that?  The  world 
would  look  upon  me  as  responsible.  They  might 
even  look  upon  me  as  the  assassin.  What  could  I 
prove  ?  What  witnesses  had  I  ?  Might  I  not 
have  been  the  accomplice  of  these  wretches? 
Yes,  yes,  I  was  eternally  dishonoured — the  lowest, 
most  despicable  creature  in  all  France.  This  then 
was  the  end  of  my  fine  military  ambitions — of  the 
hopes  of  my  mother.  I  laughed  bitterly  at  the 
thought.  And  what  was  I  to  do  now  ?  Was  I  to 
go  into  Fontainebleau,  to  wake  up  the  palace,  and 
to  inform  them  that  the  great  Emperor  had  been 


78         THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

murdered  within  a  pace  ot  me  ?  I  could  not  do  it 
— no,  I  could  not  do  it !  There  was  but  one 
course  for  an  honourable  gentleman  whom  Fate 
had  placed  in  so  cruel  a  position.  I  would  fall 
upon  my  dishonoured  sword,  and  so  share,  since  I 
could  not  avert,  the  Emperor's  fate.  I  rose  with 
my  nerves  strung  to  this  last  piteous  deed,  and  as 
I  did  so,  my  eyes  fell  upon  something  which 
struck  the  breath  from  my  lips.  The  Emperor 
was  standing  before  me  ! 

He  was  not  more  than  ten  yards  off,  with  the 
moon  shining  straight  upon  his  cold,  pale  face. 
He  wore  his  grey  overcoat,  but  the  hood  was 
turned  back,  and  the  front  open,  so  that  I  could 
see  the  green  coat  of  the  Guides,  and  the  white 
breeches.  His  hands  were  clasped  behind  his 
back,  and  his  chin  sunk  forward  upon  his  breast, 
in  the  way  that  was  usual  with  him. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  in  his  hardest  and  most  abrupt 
voice,  "  what  account  do  you  give  of  yourself  ?  " 

I  believe  that,  if  he  had  stood  in  silence  for 
another  minute,  my  brain  would  have  given  way. 
But  those  sharp  military  accents  were  exactly 
what  I  needed  to  bring  me  to  myself.  Living 
or  dead,  here  was  the  Emperor  standing   before 


The  Emperor  was  standing  before  me. 


HOW   HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.     79 

me  and  asking  me  questions.  I  sprang  to  the 
salute. 

"  You  have  killed  one,  I  see,"  said  he,  jerking 
his  head  towards  the  beech. 

"  Yes,  sire." 

"  And  the  other  escaped  ?  '* 

**  No,  sire,  I  killed  him  also." 

"  What !  "  he  cried.  ''  Do  I  understand  that 
you  have  killed  them  both  ?  "  He  approached  me 
as  he  spoke  with  a  smile  which  set  his  teeth  gleam- 
ing in  the  moonlight. 

"  One  body  lies  there,  sire,"  I  answered.  "  The 
other  is  in  the  tool-house  at  the  quarry." 

"  Then  the  Brothers  of  Ajaccio  are  no  more," 
he  cried,  and  after  a  pause,  as  if  speaking  to  him- 
self :  "  The  shadow  has  passed  me  for  ever." 
Then  he  bent  forward  and  laid  his  hand  upon  my 
shoulder. 

"  You  have  done  very  well,  my  young  friend," 
said  he.  "  You  have  lived  up  to  your  reputa- 
tion." 

He  was  flesh  and  blood,  then,  this  Emperor. 
I  could  feel  the  little,  plump  palm  that  rested 
upon  me.  And  yet  I  could  not  get  over  what  I 
had  seen  with  my  own  eyes,  and  so  I  stared  at  him 


80         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

in  such  bewilderment  that  he  broke  once  more 
into  one  of  his  smiles. 

"  No,  no,  Monsieur  Gerard,"  said  he,  "  I  am 
not  a  ghost,  and  you  have  not  seen  me  killed. 
You  will  come  here,  and  all  will  be  clear  to 
you." 

He  turned  as  he  spoke,  and  led  the  way  to- 
wards the  great  beech  stump. 

The  bodies  were  still  lying  upon  the  ground, 
and  two  men  were  standing  beside  them.  As  we 
approached  I  saw  from  the  turbans  that  they 
were  Roustem  and  Mustafa,  the  two  Mameluke 
servants.  The  Emperor  paused  when  he  came 
to  the  grey  figure  upon  the  ground,  and  turning 
back  the  hood  which  shrouded  the  features,  he 
showed  a  face  which  was  very  different  from  his 
own. 

"  Here  lies  a  faithful  servant  who  has  given  up 
his  life  for  his  master,"  said  he.  "  Monsieur  de 
Goudin  resembles  me  in  figure  and  in  manner, 
as  you  must  admit." 

What  a  delirium  of  joy  came  upon  me  when 
these  few  words  made  everything  clear  to  me. 
He  smiled  again  as  he  saw  the  delight  which 
urged  me  to   throw  my  arms  round   him  and   to 


HOW    HE   SLEW   THE    BROTHERS   OF   AJACCIO.     8 1 

embrace  him,  but  he  moved  a  step  away,  as  if  he 
had  divined  my  impulse. 

"  You  are  unhurt  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  am  unhurt,  sire.  But  in  another  minute  I 
should  in  my  despair " 

"  Tut,  tut !  "  he  interrupted.  "  You  did  very 
well.  He  should  himself  have  been  more  on  his 
guard.     I  saw  everything  which  passed." 

"  You  saw  it,  sire  !  " 

**  You  did  not  hear  me  follow  you  through  the 
wood,  then  ?  I  hardly  lost  sight  of  you  from  the 
moment  that  you  left  your  quarters  until  poor 
de  Goudin  fell.  The  counterfeit  Emperor  was  in 
front  of  you  and  the  real  one  behind.  You  will 
now  escort  me  back  to  the  palace." 

He  whispered  an  order  to  his  Mamelukes,  who 
saluted  in  silence  and  remained  where  they  were 
standing.  For  my  part,  I  followed  the  Emperor 
with  my  pelisse  bursting  with  pride.  My  word,  I 
have  always  carried  myself  as  a  hussar  should, 
but  Lasalle  himself  never  strutted  and  swung 
his  dolman  as  I  did  that  night !  Who  should 
clink  his  spurs  and  clatter  his  sabre  if  it  were 
not  I — I,  Etienne  Gerard — the  confidant  of  the 
Emperor,    the    chosen    swordsman    of    the    light 


82  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

cavalry,  the  man  who  slew  the  would-be  assassins 
of  Napoleon  ?  But  he  noticed  my  bearing  and 
turned  upon  me  like  a  blight. 

"  Is  that  the  way  to  carry  yourself  on  a  secret 
mission?"  he  hissed,  with  that  cold  glare  in  his 
eyes.  *'  Is  it  thus  that  you  will  make  your  com- 
rades believe  that  nothing  remarkable  has  oc- 
curred ?  Have  done  with  this  nonsense,  monsieur, 
or  you  will  find  yourself  transferred  to  the  sap- 
pers, where  you  would  have  harder  work  and 
duller  plumage." 

That  was  the  way  with  the  Emperor.  If  ever 
he  thought  that  anyone  might  have  a  claim  upon 
him,  he  took  the  first  opportunity  to  show  him 
the  gulf  that  lay  between.  I  saluted  and  was  si- 
lent, but  I  must  confess  to  you  that  it  hurt  me 
after  all  that  had  passed  between  us.  He  led  on 
to  the  palace,  where  we  passed  through  the  side 
door  and  up  into  his  own  cabinet.  There  were 
a  couple  of  grenadiers  at  the  staircase,  and  their 
eyes  started  out  from  under  their  fur  caps,  I 
promise  you,  when  they  saw  a  young  lieutenant 
of  hussars  going  up  to  the  Emperor's  room  at 
midnight.  I  stood  by  the  door,  as  I  had  done  in 
the  afternoon,  while  he  flung  himself  down  in  an 


HOW  HE   SLEW   THE   BROTHERS  OF  AJACCIO.     83 

arm-chair,  and  remained  silent  so  long  that  it 
seemed  to  me  that  he  had  forgotten  all  about  me. 
I  ventured  at  last  upon  a  slight  cough  to  remind 
him. 

"Ah,  Monsieur  Gerard,"  said  he,  "you  are 
very  curious,  no  doubt,  as  to  the  meaning  of  all 
this?" 

"  I  am  quite  content,  sire,  if  it  is  your  pleasure 
not  to  tell  me,"  I  answered. 

"  Ta,  ta,  ta,"  said  he  impatiently.  "  These  are 
only  words.  The  moment  that  you  were  outside 
that  door  you  would  begin  making  inquiries  about 
what  it  means.  In  two  days  your  brother  officers 
would  know  about  it,  in  three  days  it  would  be 
all  over  Fontainebleau,  and  it  would  be  in  Paris 
on  the  fourth.  Now,  if  I  tell  you  enough  to  ap- 
pease your  curiosity,  there  is  some  reasonable 
hope  that  you  may  be  able  to  keep  the  matter  to 
yourself." 

He  did  not  understand  me,  this  Emperor,  and 
yet  I  could  only  bow  and  be  silent. 

"A  few  words  will  make  it  clear  to  you,"  said 
he,  speaking  very  swiftly  and  pacing  up  and  down 
the  room.  "  They  were  Corsicans,  these  two  men. 
I  had    known    them    in  my  youth.      We    had  be- 


84         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

longed  to  the  same  society — Brothers  of  Ajaccio, 
as  we  called  ourselves.  It  was  founded  in  the  old 
Paoli  days,  you  understand,  and  we  had  some 
strict  rules  of  our  own  which  were  not  infringed 
with  impunity." 

A  very  grim  look  came  over  his  face  as  he 
spoke,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  all  that  was 
French  had  gone  out  of  him,  and  that  it  was  the 
pure  Corsican,  the  man  of  strong  passions  and  of 
strange  revenges,  who  stood  before  me.  His  mem- 
ory had  gone  back  to  those  early  days  of  his,  and 
for  five  minutes,  wrapped  in  thought,  he  paced 
up  and  down  the  room  with  his  quick  little  tiger 
steps.  Then  with  an  impatient  wave  of  his  hands 
he  came  back  to  his  palace  and  to  me. 

"  The  rules  of  such  a  society,"  he  continued, 
"are  all  very  well  for  a  private  citizen.  In  the 
old  days  there  was  no  more  loyal  brother  than 
I.  But  circumstances  change,  and  it  would  be 
neither  for  my  welfare  nor  for  that  of  France 
that  I  should  now  submit  myself  to  them.  They 
wanted  to  hold  me  to  it,  and  so  brought  their 
fate  upon  their  own  heads.  These  were  the  two 
chiefs  of  the  order,  and  they  had  come  from  Cor- 
sica to  summon    me   to   meet    them    at    the    spot 


HOW    LIE   SLEW  THE   BROTHERS   OF  AJACCIO.     85 

which  they  named.  I  knew  what  such  a  summons 
meant.  No  man  had  ever  returned  from  obeying 
one.  On  the  other  hand,  if  I  did  not  go,  I  was 
sure  that  disaster  would  follow.  I  am  a  brother 
myself,  you  remember,  and  I  know  their  ways." 

Again  there  came  that  hardening  of  his  mouth 
and  cold  glitter  of  his  eyes. 

**  You  perceive  my  dilemma,  Monsieur  Ge- 
rard," said  he.  "  How  would  you  have  acted 
yourself,  under  such  circumstances?" 

"Given  the  word  to  the  loth  Hussars,  sire," 
I  cried.  "  Patrols  could  have  swept  the  woods 
from  end  to  end,  and  brought  these  two  rascals 
to  your  feet." 

He  smiled,  but  he  shook  his  head. 

"  I  had  very  excellent  reasons  why  I  did  not 
wish  them  taken  alive,"  said  he.  "  You  can  un- 
derstand that  an  assassin's  tongue  might  be  as 
dangerous  a  weapon  as  an  assassin's  dagger.  I 
will  not  disguise  from  you  that  I  wished  to  avoid 
scandal  at  all  cost.  That  was  why  I  ordered  you 
to  take  no  pistols  with  you.  That  also  is  why 
my  Mamelukes  will  remove  all  traces  of  the  affair, 
and  nothing  more  will  be  heard  about  it.  I 
thought  of  all  possible  plans,  and  I  am  convinced 


86  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

that  I  selected  the  best  one.  Had  I  sent  more 
than  one  guard  with  de  Goudin  ^into  the  woods, 
then  the  brothers  would  not  have  appeared.  They 
would  not  change  their  plans  or  miss  their  chance 
for  the  sake  of  a  single  man.  It  was  Colonel  La- 
salle's  accidental  presence  at  the  moment  when  I 
received  the  summons  which  led  to  my  choosing 
one  of  his  hussars  for  the  mission.  I  selected 
you,  Monsieur  Gerard,  because  I  wanted  a  man 
who  could  handle  a  sword,  and  who  would  not 
pry  more  deeply  into  the  affair  than  I  desired. 
I  trust  that,  in  this  respect,  you  will  justify  my 
choice  as  well  as  you  have  done  in  your  bravery 
and  skill." 

"  Sire,"  I  answered,  "  you  may  rely  upon  it." 

"  As  long  as  I  live,"  said  he,  **you  never  open 
your  lips  upon  this  subject." 

"  I  dismiss  it  entirely  from  my  mind,  sire.  I 
will  efface  it  from  my  recollection  as  if  it  had 
never  been.  I  will  promise  you  to  go  out  of  your 
cabinet  at  this  moment  exactly  as  I  was  when  I 
entered  it  at  four  o'clock." 

"  You  cannot  do  that,"  said  the  Emperor,  smiling. 
"You  were  a  lieutenant  at  that  time.  You  will 
permit  me,  Captain,  to  wish  you  a  very  good-night." 


III. 

HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING. 

Here  upon  the  lapel  of  my  coat  you  may  see 
the  ribbon  of  my  decoration,  but  the  medal  itself 
I  keep  in  a  leathern  pouch  at  home,  and  I  never 
venture  to  take  it  out  unless  one  of  the  modern 
peace  generals,  or  some  foreigner  of  distinction 
who  finds  himself  in  our  little  town,  takes  advan- 
tage of  the  opportunity  to  pay  his  respects  to  the 
well-known  Brigadier  Gerard.  Then  I  place  it 
upon  my  breast,  and  I  give  my  moustache  the  old 
Marengo  twist  which  brings  a  grey  point  into 
either  eye.  Yet  with  it  all  I  fear  that  neither 
they,  nor  you  either,  my  friends,  will  ever  realize 
the  man  that  I  was.  You  know  me  only  as  a 
civilian — with  an  air  and  a  manner,  it  is  true — 
but  still  merely  as  a  civilian.  Had  you  seen  me 
as  I  stood  in  the  doorway  of  the  inn  at  Alamo, 
on  the  1st  of  July,  in  the  year  1810,  you  would 
then  have  known  what  the  hussar  may  attain  to. 

87 


88         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

For  a  month  I  had  lingered  in  that  accursed 
village,  and  all  on  account  of  a  lance  thrust  in  my 
ankle,  which  made  it  impossible  for  me  to  put  my 
foot  to  the  ground.  There  were  three  of  us  at 
first:  old  Bouvet,  of  the  Hussars  of  Bercheny, 
Jacques  Regnier,  of  the  Cuirassiers,  and  a  funny 
little  voltigeur  captain  whose  name  I  forget ;  but 
they  all  got  well  and  hurried  on  to  the  front, 
while  I  sat  gnawing  my  fingers  and  tearing  my 
hair,  and  even,  I  must  confess,  weeping  from  time 
to  time  as  I  thought  of  my  Hussars  of  Conflans, 
and  the  deplorable  condition  in  which  they  must 
find  themselves  when  deprived  of  their  colonel. 
I  was  not  a  chief  of  brigade  yet,  you  understand, 
although  I  already  carried  myself  like  one,  but  I 
was  the  youngest  colonel  in  the  whole  service,  and 
my  regiment  was  wife  and  children  to  me.  It 
went  to  my  heart  that  they  should  be  so  be- 
reaved. It  is  true  that  Villaret,  the  senior  major, 
was  an  excellent  soldier  ;  but  still,  even  among  the 
best  there  are  degrees  of  merit. 

Ah,  that  happy  July  day  of  which  I  speak, 
when  first  I  Umped  to  the  door  and  stood  in  the 
golden  Spanish  sunshine  !  It  was  but  the  evening 
before    that    I    had    heard     from     the    regiment. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE    KING.         89 

They  were  at  Pastores,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
mountains,  face  to  face  with  the  English — not  forty 
miles  from  me  by  road.  But  how  was  I  to  get  to 
them  ?  The  same  thrust  which  had  pierced  my 
ankle  had  slain  my  charger.  I  took  advice  both 
from  Gomez,  the  landlord,  and  from  an  old  priest 
who  had  slept  that  night  in  the  inn,  but  neither  of 
them  could  do  more  than  assure  me  that  there  was 
not  so  much  as  a  colt  left  upon  the  whole  country 
side.  The  landlord  would  not  hear  of  my  crossing 
the  mountains  without  an  escort,  for  he  assured 
me  that  El  Cuchillo,  the  Spanish  guerilla  chief, 
was  out  that  way  with  his  band,  and  that  it  meant 
a  death  by  torture  to  fall  into  his  hands.  The  old 
priest  observed,  however,  that  he  did  not  think  a 
French  hussar  would  be  deterred  by  that,  and  if 
I  had  had  any  doubts,  they  would  of  course  have 
been  decided  by  his  remark. 

But  a  horse  !  How  was  I  to  get  one  ?  I  was 
standing  in  the  doorway,  plotting  and  planning, 
when  I  heard  the  clink  of  shoes,  and,  looking  up, 
I  saw  a  great  bearded  man,  with  a  blue  coat 
frogged  across  in  military  fashion,  coming  towards 
me.  He  was  riding  a  big  black  horse  with  one 
white  stocking  on  his  near  fore-leg. 


go         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  Halloa,  comrade !  "  said  I,  as  he  came  up 
to  me. 

''  Halloa  !  "  said  he. 

"  I  am  Colonel  Gerard,  of  the  Hussars,"  said  I. 
*'  I  have  lain  here  wounded  for  a  month,  and  I 
am  now  ready  to  rejoin  my  regiment  at  Pastores." 

"  I  am  Monsieur  Vidal,  of  the  commissariat," 
he  answered,  "  and  I  am  myself  upon  my  way  to 
Pastores.  I  should  be  glad  to  have  your  com- 
pany, colonel,  for  I  hear  that  the  mountains  are 
far  from  safe." 

"  Alas,"  said  I,  "  I  have  no  horse.  But  if  you 
will  sell  me  yours,  I  will  promise  that  an  escort  of 
hussars  shall  be  sent  back  for  you." 

He  would  not  hear  of  it,  and  it  was  in  vain  that 
the  landlord  told  him  dreadful  stories  of  the  do- 
ings of  El  Cuchillo,  and  that  I  pointed  out  the 
duty  which  he  owed  to  the  army  and  to  the 
country.  He  would  not  even  argue,  but  called 
loudly  for  a  cup  of  wine.  I  craftily  asked  him  to 
dismount  and  to  drink  with  me,  but  he  must  have 
seen  something  in  my  face,  for  he  shook  his  head ; 
and  then,  as  I  approached  him  with  some  thought 
of  seizing  him  by  the  leg,  he  jerked  his  heels  into 
his  horse's  flanks,  and  was  off  in  a  cloud  of  dust. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.         9I 

My  faith  !  it  was  enough  to  make  a  man  mad  to 
see  this  fellow  riding  away  so  gaily  to  join  his 
beef-barrels,  and  his  brandy-casks,  and  then  to 
think  of  my  five  hundred  beautiful  hussars  with- 
out their  leader.  I  was  gazing  after  him  with 
bitter  thoughts  in  my  mind,  when  who  should 
touch  me  on  the  elbow  but  the  little  priest  whom 
I  have  mentioned. 

"  It  is  I  who  can  help  you,"  he  said.  "  I  am 
myself  travelling  south." 

I  put  my  arms  about  him  and,  as  my  ankle  gave 
way  at  the  same  moment,  we  nearly  rolled  upon 
the  ground  together. 

"  Get  me  to  Pastores,"  I  cried,  "  and  you  shall 
have  a  rosary  of  golden  beads."  I  had  taken  one 
from  the  Convent  of  Spiritu  Santo.  It  shows  how 
necessary  it  is  to  take  what  you  can  when  you  are 
upon  a  campaign,  and  how  the  most  unlikely  things 
may  become  useful. 

"  I  will  take  you,"  he  said,  in  very  excellent 
French,  "  not  because  I  hope  for  any  reward,  but 
because  it  is  my  way  always  to  do  what  I  can  to 
serve  my  fellow-man,  and  that  is  why  I  am  so  be- 
loved wherever  I  go." 

With    that  he   led  me   down  the  village  to  an 


92         THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

old  cow-house,  in  which  we  found  a  tumble-down 
sort  of  diligence,  such  as  they  used  to  run  early  in 
this  century,  between  some  of  our  remote  villages. 
There  were  three  old  mules,  too,  none  of  which 
were  strong  enough  to  carry  a  man,  but  together 
they  might  draw  the  coach.  The  sight  of  their 
gaunt  ribs  and  spavined  legs  gave  me  more  delight 
than  the  whole  two  hundred  and  twenty  hunters 
of  the  Emperor  which  I  have  seen  in  their  stalls 
at  Fontainebleau.  In  ten  minutes  the  owner  was 
harnessing  them  into  the  coach,  with  no  very 
good  will,  however,  for  he  was  in  mortal  dread  of 
this  terrible  Cuchillo.  It  was  only  by  promising 
him  riches  in  this  world,  while  the  priest  threat- 
ened him  with  perdition  in  the  next,  that  we  at 
last  got  him  safely  upon  the  box  with  the  reins 
between  his  fingers.  Then  he  was  in  such  a  hurry 
to  get  off,  out  of  fear  lest  we  should  find  ourselves 
in  the  dark  in  the  passes,  that  he  hardly  gave  me 
time  to  renew  my  vows  to  the  innkeeper's  daugh- 
ter. I  cannot  at  this  moment  recall  her  name,  but 
we  wept  together  as  we  parted,  and  I  can  remem- 
ber that  she  was  a  very  beautiful  woman.  You 
will  understand,  my  friends,  that  when  a  man  like 
me,   who   has    fou^rht    the    men    and    kissed    the 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.         93 

women  in  fourteen  separate  kingdoms,  gives  a 
word  of  praise  to  the  one  or  the  other,  it  has  a  lit- 
tle meaning  of  its  own. 

The  little  priest  had  seemed  a  trifle  grave 
when  we  kissed  good-bye,  but  he  soon  proved  him- 
self the  best  of  companions  in  the  diligence.  All 
the  way  he  amused  me  with  tales  of  his  little 
parish  up  in  the  mountains,  and  I  in  my  turn 
told  him  stories  about  the  camp  ;  but,  my  faith,  I 
had  to  pick  steps,  for  when  I  said  a  word  too 
much  he  would  fidget  in  his  seat  and  his  face 
would  show  the  pain  that  I  had  given  him.  And 
of  course  it  was  not  the  act  of  a  gentleman  to  talk 
in  anything  but  a  proper  manner  to  a  religious 
man,  though,  with  all  the  care  in  the  world,  one's 
words  may  get  out  of  hand  sometimes. 

He  had  come  from  the  north  of  Spain,  as  he 
told  me,  and  was  going  to  see  his  mother  in  a 
village  of  Estremadura,  and  as  he  spoke  about  her 
little  peasant  home,  and  her  joy  in  seeing  him,  it 
brought  my  own  mother  so  vividly  to  my  thoughts 
that  the  tears  started  to  my  eyes.  In  his  sim- 
plicity he  showed  me  the  little  gifts  which  he  was 
taking  to  her,  and  so  kindly  was  his  manner  that 
I  could  readily  believe  him  when  he  said  that  he 


94         THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

was  loved  wherever  he  went.  He  examined  my 
own  uniform  with  as  much  curiosity  as  a  child, 
admiring  the  plume  of  my  busby,  and  passing  his 
fingers  through  the  sable  with  which  my  dolman 
was  trimmed.  He  drew  my  sword,  too,  and  then 
when  I  told  him  how  many  men  I  had  cut  down 
with  it,  and  set  my  finger  on  the  notch  made  by 
the  shoulder-bone  of  the  Russian  Emperor's  aide- 
de-camp,  he  shuddered  and  placed  the  weapon 
under  the  leathern  cushion,  declaring  that  it  made 
him  sick  to  look  at  it. 

Well,  we  had  been  rolling  and  creaking  on 
our  way  whilst  this  talk  had  been  going  forward, 
and  as  we  reached  the  base  of  the  mountains  we 
could  hear  the  rumbling  of  cannon  far  away  upon 
the  right.  This  came  from  Massena,  who  was,  as 
I  knew,  besieging  Ciudad  Rodrigo.  There  was 
nothing  I  should  have  wished  better  than  to  have 
gone  straight  to  him,  for  if,  as  some  said,  he  had 
Jewish  blood  in  his  veins,  he  was  the  best  Jew 
that  I  have  heard  of  since  Joshua's  time.  If  you 
were  in  sight  of  his  beaky  nose  and  bold  black 
eyes,  you  were  not  likely  to  miss  much  of  what 
is  going  on.  Still,  a  siege  is  always  a  poor  sort 
of  a  pick-and-shovel  business,  and  there  were  bet- 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.         95 

ter  prospects  with  my  hussars  in  front  of  the 
English.  Every  mile  that  passed,  my  heart  grew 
lighter  and  lighter,  until  I  found  myself  shouting 
and  singing  like  a  young  ensign  fresh  from  Saint 
Cyr,  just  to  think  of  seeing  all  my  fine  horses  and 
my  gallant  fellows  once  more. 

As  we  penetrated  the  mountains  the  road  grew 
rougher  and  the  pass  more  savage.  At  first  we 
had  met  a  few  muleteers,  but  now  the  whole 
country  seemed  deserted,  which  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at  when  you  think  that  the  French,  the 
English,  and  the  guerillas  had  each  in  turn  had 
command  over  it.  So  bleak  and  wild  was  it,  one 
great  brown  wrinkled  cliff  succeeding  another, 
and  the  pass  growing  narrower  and  narrower,  that 
I  ceased  to  look  out,  but  sat  in  silence,  thinking  of 
this  and  that,  of  women  whom  I  had  loved  and 
of  horses  which  I  had  handled.  I  was  suddenly 
brought  back  from  my  dreams,  however,  by  ob- 
serving the  difficulties  of  my  companion,  who  was 
trying  with  a  sort  of  brad-awl,  which  he  had 
drawn  out,  to  bore  a  hole  through  the  leath- 
ern strap  which  held  up  his  water-fiask.  As  he 
worked  with  twitching  fingers  the  strap  escaped 
his  grasp,  and  the  wooden  bottle  fell  at  my  feet. 


96         THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

I  stooped  to  pick  it  up,  and  as  I  did  so  the  priest 
silently  leaped  upon  my  shoulders'  and  drove  his 
brad-awl  into  my  eye ! 

My  friends,  I  am,  as  you  know,  a  man  steeled 
to  face  every  danger.  When  one  has  served  from 
the  affair  of  Zurich  to  that  last  fatal  day  of  Wa- 
terloo, and  has  had  the  special  medal,  which  I 
keep  at  home  in  a  leathern  pouch,  one  can  afford 
to  confess  when  one  is  frightened.  It  may  con- 
sole some  of  you,  when  your  own  nerves  play 
you  tricks,  to  remember  that  you  have  heard  even 
me,  Brigadier  Gerard,  say  that  I  have  been  scared. 
And  besides  my  terror  at  this  horrible  attack,  and 
the  maddening  pain  of  my  wound,  there  was  a 
sudden  feeling  of  loathing  such  as  you  might  feel 
were  some  filthy  tarantula  to  strike  its  fangs  into 
you. 

I  clutched  the  creature  in  both  hands,  and, 
hurling  him  on  to  the  floor  of  the  coach,  I  stamped 
on  him  with  my  heavy  boots.  He  had  drawn  a 
pistol  from  the  front  of  his  soutane,  but  I  kicked 
it  out  of  his  hand,  and  again  I  fell  with  my  knees 
upon  his  chest.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  he 
screamed  horribly,  w^hile  I,  half  blinded,  felt  about 
for  the   sword  which    he   had    so    cunningly  con- 


I  was  dragged  by  the  heels  on  to  the  road. 


HOW   THE    BRIGADIER    HELD   THE   KING.         9/ 

cealed.  My  hand  had  just  lighted  upon  it,  and  I 
was  dashing  the  blood  from  my  face  to  see  where 
he  lay  that  I  might  transfix  him  when  the  whole 
coach  turned  partly  over  upon  its  side,  and  my 
weapon  was  jerked  out  of  my  grasp  by  the  shock. 
Before  I  could  recover  myself  the  door  was  burst 
open,  and  I  was  dragged  by  the  heels  on  to  the 
road.  But  even  as  I  was  torn  out  on  to  the  flint 
stones,  and  realized  that  thirty  ruffians  were  stand- 
ing around  me,  I  was  filled  with  joy,  for  my  pe- 
lisse had  been  pulled  over  my  head  in  the  struggle 
and  was  covering  one  of  my  eyes,  and  it  was 
with  my  wounded  eye  that  I  was  seeing  this  gang 
of  brigands.  You  see  for  yourself  by  this  pucker 
and  scar  how  the  thin  blade  passed  between  socket 
and  ball,  but  it  was  only  at  that  moment,  when 
I  was  dragged  from  the  coach,  that  I  understood 
that  my  sight  was  not  gone  for  ever.  The  crea- 
ture's intention,  doubtless,  was  to  drive  it  through 
into  my  brain,  and  indeed  he  loosened  some  por- 
tion of  the  inner  bone  of  my  head,  so  that  I  after- 
wards had  more  trouble  from  that  wound  than 
from  any  one  of  the  seventeen  which  I  have  re- 
ceived. 

They  dragged  me  out,  these  sons  of  dogs,  with 


98  THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD.       ^.  . 

curses  and  execrations,  beating  me  with  their  fists 
and  kicking  me  as  1  lay  upon  the  ground.  I  had 
frequently  observed  that  the  mountaineers  wore 
cloth  swathed  round  their  feet,  but  never  did  I 
imagine  that  I  should  have  so  much  cause  to  be 
thankful  for  it.  Presently,  seeing  the  blood  upon 
my  head,  and  that  I  lay  quiet,  they  thought  that 
I  was  unconscious,  whereas  I  was  storing  every 
ugly  face  among  them  into  my  memory,  so  that 
I  might  see  them  all  safely  hanged  if  ever 
my  chance  came  round.  Brawny  rascals  they 
were,  with  yellow  handkerchiefs  round  their 
heads,  and  great  red  sashes  stuffed  with  weapons. 
They  had  rolled  two  rocks  across  the  path,  where 
it  took  a  sharp  turn,  and  it  was  these  which  had 
torn  off  one  of  the  wheels  of  the  coach  and  up- 
set us.  As  to  this  reptile,  who  had  acted  the 
priest  so  cleverly  and  had  told  me  so  much  of  his 
parish  and  his  mother,  he,  of  course,  had  known 
where  the  ambuscade  was  laid,  and  had  attempted 
to  put  me  beyond  all  resistance  at  the  moment 
when  we  reached  it. 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  frantic  their  rage  was 
when  they  drew  him  out  of  the  coach  and  saw 
the  state  to  which  I  had  reduced  him.     If  he  had 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.         99 

not  got  all  his  deserts,  he  had,  at  least,  something 
as  a  souvenir  of  his  meeting  with  Etienne  Gerard, 
for  his  legs  dangled  aimlessly  about,  and  though 
the  upper  part  of  his  body  was  convulsed  with 
rage  and  pain,  he  sat  straight  down  upon  his  feet 
when  they  tried  to  set  him  upright.  But  all  the 
time  his  two  little  black  eyes,  which  had  seemed 
so  kindly  and  so  innocent  in  the  coach,  were 
glaring  at  me  like  a  wounded  cat,  and  he  spat, 
and  spat,  and  spat  in  my  direction.  My  faith ! 
when  the  wretches  jerked  me  on  to  my  feet  again, 
and  when  I  was  dragged  off  up  one  of  the  moun- 
tain paths,  I  understood  that  a  time  was  coming 
when  I  was  to  need  all  my  courage  and  resource. 
My  enemy  was  carried  upon  the  shoulders  of  two 
men  behind  me,  and  I  could  hear  his  hissing  and 
his  reviling,  first  in  one  ear  and  then  in  the  other, 
as  I  was  hurried  up  the  winding  track. 

I  suppose  that  it  must  have  been  for  an  hour 
that  we  ascended,  and  what  with  my  wounded 
ankle  and  the  pain  from  my  eye,  and  the  fear 
lest  this  wound  should  have  spoiled  my  appear- 
ance, I  have  made  no  journey  to  which  I  look 
back  with  less  pleasure.  I  have  never  been  a 
good  climber   at  any  time,  but  it   is    astonishing 


lOO      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

what  you  can  do,  even  with  a  stiff  ankle,  when 
you  have  a  copper-coloured  brigand  at  each  el- 
bow and  a  nine-inch  blade  within  touch  of  your 
whiskers. 

We  came  at  last  to  a  place  where  the  path 
wound  over  a  ridge,  and  descended  upon  the 
other  side  through  thick  pine  trees  into  a  valley 
which  opened  to  the  south.  In  time  of  peace  I 
have  little  doubt  that  the  villains  were  all  smug- 
glers, and  that  these  were  the  secret  paths  by 
which  they  crossed  the  Portuguese  frontier. 
There  were  many  mule  tracks,  and  once  I  was 
surprised  to  see  the  marks  of  a  large  horse  where 
a  stream  had  softened  the  track.  These  were  ex- 
plained, when,  on  reaching  a  place  where  there  was 
a  clearing  in  the  fir  wood,  I  saw  the  animal  itself 
haltered  to  a  fallen  tree.  My  eyes  had  hardly 
rested  upon  it,  when  I  recognised  the  great  black 
limbs,  and  the  white  near  fore-leg.  It  was  the 
very  horse  which  I  had  begged  for  in  the  morn- 
ing. 

What,  then,  had  become  of  Commissariat  Vi- 
dal?  Was  it  possible  that  there  was  another 
Frenchman  in  as  perilous  a  plight  as  myself  ? 
The   thought   had  hardly  entered  my  head  when 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER    HEI D   THE    KING.       lOI 

our  party  stopped  and  one  of  dieim  uttcjed  .a 
peculiar  cry.  It  was  answered  from  among  the 
brambles  which  lined  the  base  of  a  cliff  at  one 
side  of  a  clearing,  and  an  instant  later  ten  or  a 
dozen  more  brigands  came  out  from  amongst 
them,  and  the  two  parties  greeted  each  other. 

The  new-comers  surrounded  my  friend  of  the 
brad-awl  with  cries  of  grief  and  sympathy,  and 
then  turning  upon  me  they  brandished  their  knives 
and  howled  at  me  like  the  gang  of  assassins  that 
they  were.  So  frantic  were  their  gestures  that  I 
was  convinced  that  my  end  had  come,  and  was 
just  bracing  myself  to  meet  it  in  a  manner  which 
should  be  worthy  of  my  past  reputation,  when 
one  of  them  gave  an  order  and  I  was  dragged 
roughly  across  the  little  glade  to  the  brambles 
from  which  this  new  band  had  emerged. 

A  narrow  pathway  led  through  them  to  a  deep 
grotto  in  the  side  of  the  cliff.  The  sun  was  already 
setting  outside,  and  in  the  cave  itself  it  would 
have  been  quite  dark  but  for  a  pair  of  torches 
which  blazed  from  a  socket  on  either  side.  Be- 
tween them  there  was  sitting  at  a  rude  table  a 
very  singular-looking  person,  whom  I  saw  in- 
stantly, from  the  respect   with  which    the   others 


I02       THE   EXPLOITS"  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

addressed 'Him,  could  be  none  other  than  the  brig- 
and chief  who  had  received,  on  account  of  his 
dreadful  character,  the  sinister  name  of  El  Cu- 
chillo. 

The  man  whom  I  had  injured  had  been  carried 
in  and  placed  upon  the  top  of  a  barrel,  his  help- 
less legs  dangling  about  in  front  of  him,  and  his 
cat's  eyes  still  darting  glances  of  hatred  at  me. 
I  understood  from  the  snatches  of  talk  which  I 
could  follow  between  the  chief  and  him,  that  he 
was  the  lieutenant  of  the  band,  and  that  part  of 
his  duties  was  to  lie  in  wait  with  his  smooth 
tongue  and  his  peaceful  garb  for  travellers  like 
myself.  When  I  thought  of  how  many  gallant 
officers  may  have  been  lured  to  their  death  by 
this  monster  of  hypocrisy,  it  gave  me  a  glow  of 
pleasure  to  think  that  I  had  brought  his  villainies 
to  an  end — though  I  feared  that  it  would  be  at 
the  price  of  a  life  which  neither  the  Emperor  nor 
the  army  could  well  spare. 

As  the  injured  man,  still  supported  upon  the 
barrel  by  two  comrades,  was  explaining  in  Spanish 
all  that  had  befallen  him,  I  was  held  by  several  of 
the  villains  in  front  of  the  table  at  which  the 
chief  was  seated,  and  had  an  excellent  opportunity 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       IO3 

of  observing  him.  I  have  seldom  seen  any  man 
who  was  less  like  my  idea  of  a  brigand,  and  es- 
pecially of  a  brigand  with  such  a  reputation  that 
in  a  land  of  cruelty  he  had  earned  so  dark  a  nick- 
name. His  face  was  bluff  and  broad  and  bland, 
with  ruddy  cheeks  and  comfortable  little  tufts  of 
side-whiskers,  which  gave  him  the  appearance  of 
a  well-to-do  grocer  of  the  Rue  St.  Antoine.  He 
had  not  any  of  those  flaring  sashes  or  gleaming 
weapons  which  distinguished  his  followers,  but  on 
the  contrary  he  wore  a  good  broad-cloth  coat  like 
a  respectable  father  of  a  family,  and  save  for  his 
brown  leggings  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  a  life 
among  the  mountains.  His  surroundings,  too,  cor- 
responded with  himself,  and  beside  his  snuff-box 
upon  the  table  there  stood  a  great  brown  book, 
which  looked  like  a  commercial  ledger.  Many 
other  books  were  ranged  along  a  plank  between 
two  powder-casks,  and  there  was  a  great  litter  of 
papers,  some  of  which  had  verses  scribbled  upon 
them.  All  this  I  took  in  while  he,  leaning  indo- 
lently back  in  his  chair,  was  listening  to  the  report 
of  his  lieutenant.  Having  heard  everything,  he 
ordered  the  cripple  to  be  carried  out  again,  and  I 
was  left  with  my  three  guards,  waiting  to  hear  my 


I04       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

fate.  He  took  up  his  pen,  and,  tapping  his  fore- 
head with  the  handle  of  it,  he  pursed  up  his  Hps 
and  looked  out  of  the  corner  of  his  eyes  at  the 
roof  of  the  grotto. 

'*  I  suppose,"  said  he,  at  last,  speaking  very  ex- 
cellent French,  "  that  you  are  not  able  to  suggest 
a  rhyme  for  the  word  Covilha." 

I  answered  him  that  my  acquaintance  with  the 
Spanish  language  was  so  limited  that  1  was  unable 
to  oblige  him. 

*'  It  is  a  rich  language,"  said  he,  "  but  less  prolific 
in  rhymes  than  either  the  German  or  the  English. 
That  is  why  our  best  work  has  been  done  in  blank 
verse,  a  form  of  composition  which  is  capable  of 
reaching  great  heights.  But  I  fear  that  such  sub- 
jects are  somewhat  outside  the  range  of  a  hussar." 

I  was  about  to  answer  that  if  they  were  good 
enough  for  a  guerilla,  they  could  not  be  too  much 
for  the  light  cavalry,  but  he  was  already  stooping 
over  his  half-finished  verse.  Presently  he  threw 
down  the  pen  with  an  exclamation  of  satisfaction, 
and  declaimed  a  few  lines  which  drew  a  cry  of 
approval  from  the  three  ruffians  who  held  me. 
His  broad  face  blushed  like  a  young  girl  who  re- 
ceives her  first  compliment. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       I05 

"  The  critics  are  in  my  favour,  it  appears,"  said 
he  ;  "  we  amuse  ourselves  in  our  long  evenings  by 
singing  our  own  ballads,  you  understand.  I  have 
some  little  facility  in  that  direction,  and  I  do  not 
at  all  despair  of  seeing  some  of  my  poor  efforts  in 
print  before  long,  and  with  *  Madrid  '  upon  the 
title-page,  too.  But  we  must  get  back  to  business. 
May  I  ask  what  your  name  is  ?  " 

"  Etienne  Gerard.** 

-  Rank  ?  " 

"  Colonel." 

"  Corps  ?  •• 

"  The  Third  Hussars  of  Conflans.** 

**  You  are  young  for  a  colonel." 

"  My  career  has  been  an  eventful  one.** 

"  Tut,  that  makes  it  the  sadder,"  said  he,  with 
his  bland  smile. 

I  made  no  answer  to  that,  but  I  tried  to  show 
him  by  my  bearing  that  I  was  ready  for  the  worst 
which  could  befall  me. 

"  By  the  way,  I  rather  fancy  that  we  have  had 
some  of  your  corps  here,"  said  he,  turning  over 
the  pages  of  his  big  brown  register.  "  We  endeav- 
our to  keep  a  record  of  our  operations.  Here  is  a 
heading  under  June  24th.     Have  you  not  a  3^oung 


I06      THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

officer  named  Soubiron,  a  tall,  slight  youth  with 
light  hair  ?  " 

"  Certainly." 

"  I  see  that  we  buried  him  upon  that  date." 

"  Poor  lad  !  "  I  cried.     "  And  how  did  he  die  ?  " 

"  We  buried  him." 

"  But  before  you  buried  him  ?  " 

"  You  misunderstand  me,  Colonel.  He  was  not 
dead  before  we  buried  him." 

"  You  buried  him  alive  !  " 

For  a  moment  I  was  too  stunned  to  act.  Then 
I  hurled  myself  upon  the  man,  as  he  sat  with  that 
placid  smile  of  his  upon  his  lips,  and  I  would  have 
torn  his  throat  out  had  the  three  wretches  not 
dragged  me  away  from  him.  Again  and  again  I 
made  for  him,  panting  and  cursing,  shaking  off  this 
man  and  that,  straining  and  wrenching,  but  never 
quite  free.  At  last,  with  my  jacket  torn  nearly  off 
my  back  and  blood  dripping  from  my  wrists,  I 
was  hauled  backwards  in  the  bight  of  a  rope  and 
cords  passed  round  my  ankles  and  my  arms. 

"  You  sleek  hound,"  I  cried.  "  If  ever  I  have 
you  at  my  sword's  point,  I  will  teach  you  to  mal- 
treat one  of  my  lads.  You  will  find,  you  blood- 
thirsty beast,  that  my  Emperor  has  long  arms,  and 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       I07 

though  you  lie  here  like  a  rat  in  its  hole,  the  time 
will  come  when  he  will  tear  you  out  of  it,  and  you 
and  your  vermin  will  perish  together." 

My  faith,  I  have  a  rough  side  to  my  tongue, 
and  there  was  not  a  hard  word  that  I  had  learned 
in  fourteen  campaigns  which  I  did  not  let  fly  at 
him,  but  he  sat  with  the  handle  of  his  pen  tapping 
against  his  forehead  and  his  eyes  squinting  up  at 
the  roof  as  if  he  had  conceived  the  idea  of  some 
new  stanza.  It  was  this  occupation  of  his  which 
showed  me  how  I  might  get  my  point  into  him. 

"  You  spawn  !  "  said  I  ;  ''  you  think  that  you 
are  safe  here,  but  your  life  may  be  as  short  as  that 
of  your  absurd  verses,  and  God  knows  it  could  not 
be  shorter  than  that." 

Ah,  you  should  have  seen  him  bound  from  his 
chair  when  I  said  the  words.  This  vile  monster, 
who  dispensed  death  and  torture  as  a  grocer 
serves  out  his  figs,  had  one  raw  nerve  then  which 
I  could  prod  at  pleasure.  His  face  grew  livid,  and 
those  little  bourgeois  side-whiskers  quivered  and 
thrilled  with  passion. 

''  Very  good,  Colonel.  You  have  said  enough," 
he  cried,  in  a  choking  voice.  ''  You  say  that  you 
have  had  a  very  distinguished  career.     I  promise 


I08       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

you  also  a  very  distinguished  ending.  Colonel 
Etienne  Gerard  of  the  Third  Hussars  shall  have 
a  death  of  his  own." 

"And  I  only  beg,"  said  I,  "that  you  will  not 
commemorate  it  in  verse."  I  had  one  or  two  little 
ironies  to  utter,  but  he  cut  me  short  by  a  furious 
gesture  which  caused  my  three  guards  to  drag  me 
from  the  cave. 

Our  interview,  which  I  have  told  you  as  nearly 
as  I  can  remember  it,  must  have  lasted  some  time, 
for  it  was  quite  dark  when  we  came  out,  and  the 
moon  was  shining  very  clearly  in  the  heavens. 
The  brigands  had  lighted  a  great  fire  of  the  dried 
branches  of  the  fir  trees ;  not,  of  course,  for 
warmth,  since  the  night  was  already  very  sultry, 
but  to  cook  their  evening  meal.  A  huge  copper 
pot  hung  over  the  blaze,  and  the  rascals  were 
lying  all  round  in  the  yellow  glare,  so  that  the 
scene  looked  like  one  of  those  pictures  which 
Junot  stole  out  of  Madrid.  There  are  some  sol- 
diers who  profess  to  care  nothing  for  art  and  the 
like,  but  I  have  always  been  drawn  towards  it  my- 
self, in  which  respect  I  show  my  good  taste  and 
my  breeding.  I  remember,  for  example,  that  when 
Lefebvre  was  selling  the  plunder  after  the  fall  of 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       IO9 

Danzig,  I  bought  a  very  fine  picture,  called 
"  Nymphs  surprised  in  a  Wood,"  and  I  carried 
it  with  me  through  two  campaigns,  until  my 
charger  had  the  misfortune  to  put  his  hoof 
through  it. 

I  only  tell  you  this,  however,  to  show  you  that 
I  was  never  a  mere  rough  soldier  like  Rapp  or 
Ney.  As  I  lay  in  that  brigand's  camp,  I  had  lit- 
tle time  or  inclination  to  think  about  such  matters. 
They  had  thrown  me  down  under  a  tree,  the  three 
villains  squatting  round  and  smoking  their  cigar- 
ettes within  hands'  touch  of  me.  What  to  do  I 
could  not  imagine.  In  my  whole  career  I  do  not 
suppose  that  I  have  ten  times  been  in  as  hopeless 
a  situation.  "  But  courage,"  thought  I.  "  Cour- 
age, my  brave  boy !  You  were  not  made  a  Colo- 
nel of  Hussars  at  twenty-eight  because  you  could 
dance  a  cotillon.  You  are  a  picked  man,  Etienne  ; 
a  man  who  has  come  through  more  than  two 
hundred  affairs,  and  this  little  one  is  surely  not 
going  to  be  the  last."  I  began  eagerly  to  glance 
about  for  some  chance  of  escape,  and  as  I  did  so 
I  saw  something  which  filled  me  with  great  aston- 
ishment. 

I  have  already  told  you  that  a  large  fire  was 


no       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

burning  in  the  centre  of  the  glade.  What  with  its 
glare,  and  what  with  the  moonlight,  everything 
was  as  clear  as  possible.  On  the  other  side  of  the 
glade  there  was  a  single  tall  fir  tree  which  at- 
tracted my  attention  because  its  trunk  and  lower 
branches  were  discoloured,  as  if  a  large  fire  had 
recently  been  lit  underneath  it.  A  clump  of 
bushes  grew  in  front  of  it  which  concealed  the 
base.  Well,  as  I  looked  towards  it,  I  was  sur- 
prised to  see  projecting  above  the  bush,  and  fas- 
tened apparently  to  the  tree,  a  pair  of  fine  riding 
boots  with  the  toes  upwards.  At  first  I  thought 
that  they  were  tied  there,  but  as  I  looked  harder 
I  saw  that  they  were  secured  by  a  great  nail  which 
was  hammered  through  the  foot  of  each.  And 
then,  suddenly,  with  a  thrill  of  horror,  I  under- 
stood that  these  were  not  empty  boots ;  and 
moving  my  head  a  little  to  the  right,  I  was  able  to 
see  who  it  was  that  had  been  fastened  there,  and 
why  a  fire  had  been  lit  beneath  the  tree.  It  is 
not  pleasant  to  speak  or  to  think  of  horrors,  my 
friends,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  give  any  of  you  bad 
dreams  to-night — but  I  cannot  take  you  among 
the  Spanish  guerillas  without  showing  you  what 
kind  of   men  they  were,  and   the  sort  of  warfare 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       Ill 

that  they  waged.  I  will  only  say  that  I  under- 
stood why  Monsieur  Yidal's  horse  was  waiting 
masterless  in  the  grove,  and  that  I  hoped  he  had 
met  this  terrible  fate  with  sprightliness  and  cour- 
age, as  a  good  Frenchman  ought. 

It  was  not  a  very  cheering  sight  for  me,  as  you 
can  imagine.  When  I  had  been  with  their  chief 
in  the  grotto  I  had  been  so  carried  away  by  my 
rage  at  the  cruel  death  of  young  Soubiron,  who 
was  one  of  the  brightest  lads  who  ever  threw  his 
thigh  over  a  charger,  that  I  had  never  given  a 
thought  to  my  own  position.  Perhaps  it  would 
have  been  more  politic  had  I  spoken  the  ruffian 
fair,  but  it  was  too  late  now.  The  cork  was 
drawn,  and  I  must  drain  the  wine.  Besides,  if  the 
harmless  commissariat  man  were  put  to  such  a 
death,  what  hope  was  there  for  me,  who  had 
snapped  the  spine  of  their  lieutenant.  No,  I  was 
doomed  in  any  case,  so  it  was  as  well  perhaps  that 
I  should  have  put  the  best  face  on  the  matter. 
This  beast  could  bear  witness  that  Etienne  Gerard 
had  died  as  he  had  lived,  and  that  one  prisoner 
at  least  had  not  quailed  before  him.  I  lay  there 
thinking  of  the  various  girls  who  would  mourn  for 
me,  and  of  my  dear  old   mother,  and  of   the  de- 


112       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

plorable  loss  which  I  should  be  both  to  my  regi- 
ment and  to  the  Emperor,  and  I  am  not  ashamed 
to  confess  to  you  that  I  shed  tears  as  I  thought  of 
the  general  consternation  which  my  premature 
end  would  give  rise  to. 

But  all  the  time  I  was  taking  the  very  keenest 
notice  of  everything  which  might  possibly  help 
me.  I  am  not  a  man  who  would  lie  like  a  sick 
horse  waiting  for  the  farrier  sergeant  and  the 
pole-axe.  First  I  would  give  a  little  tug  at  my 
ankle-cords,  and  then  another  at  those  which  were 
round  my  wrists,  and  all  the  time  that  I  was  try- 
ing to  loosen  them  I  was  peering  round  to  see  if 
I  could  find  something  which  was  in  my  favour. 
There  was  one  thing  which  was  very  evident.  A 
hussar  is  but  half  formed  without  a  horse,  and 
there  was  my  other  half  quietly  grazing  within 
thirty  yards  of  me.  Then  I  observed  yet  another 
thing.  The  path  by  which  we  had  come  over  the 
mountains  was  so  steep  that  a  horse  could  only  be 
led  across  it  slowly  and  with  difficulty,  but  in  the 
other  direction  the  ground  appeared  to  be  more 
open,  and  to  lead  straight  down  into  a  gently- 
sloping  valley.  Had  I  but  my  feet  in  yonder 
stirrups  and  my  sabre  in  my  hand,  a  single  bold 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER    HELD   THE   KING.       II3 

dash  might  take  me  out  of  the  power  of  these 
vermin  of  the  rocks. 

I  was  still  thinking  it  over  and  straining  with 
my  wrists  and  my  ankles,  when  their  chief  came 
out  from  his  grotto,  and  after  some  talk  with  his 
lieutenant,  who  lay  groaning  near  the  fire,  they 
both  nodded  their  heads  and  looked  across  at  me. 
He  then  said  some  few  words  to  the  band,  who 
clapped  their  hands  and  laughed  uproariously. 
Things  looked  ominous,  and  I  was  delighted  to 
feel  that  my  hands  were  so  far  free  that  I  could 
easily  slip  them  through  the  cords  if  I  wished. 
But  with  my  ankles,  I  feared  that  I  could  do 
nothing,  for  w^hen  I  strained  it  brought  such 
pain  into  my  lance  wound,  that  I  had  to  gnaw  my 
moustache  to  keep  from  crying  out.  I  could  only 
lie  still,  half  free  and  half  bound,  and  see  what  turn 
things  were  likely  to  take. 

For  a  little  I  could  not  make  out  what  they 
were  after.  One  of  the  rascals  climbed  up  a  well- 
grown  fir  tree  upon  one  side  of  the  glade,  and 
tied  a  rope  round  the  top  of  the  trunk.  He  then 
fastened  another  rope  in  the  same  fashion  to  a 
similar  tree  upon  the  other  side.  The  two  loose 
ends  were  now  dangling  down,  and  I  waited  with 


114       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

some  curiosity,  and  just  a  little  trepidation  also, 
to  see  what  they  would  do  next.  The  whole  band 
pulled  upon  one  of  the  ropes  until  they  had  bent 
the  strong  young  tree  down  into  a  semicircle,  and 
they  then  fastened  it  to  a  stump,  so  as  to  hold  it 
so.  When  they  had  bent  the  other  tree  down  in 
a  similar  fashion,  the  two  summits  were  within  a 
few  feet  of  each  other,  though,  as  you  understand, 
they  would  each  spring  back  into  their  original 
position  the  instant  that  they  were  released.  I 
already  saw  the  diabolical  plan  which  these  mis- 
creants had  formed. 

"  I  presume  that  you  are  a  strong  man.  Colo- 
nel," said  the  chief,  coming  towards  me  with 
his  hateful  smile. 

"  If  you  will  have  the  kindness  to  loosen  these 
cords,"  I  answered,  "  I  will  show  you  how  strong 
I  am." 

"  We  were  all  interested  to  see  whether  you 
were  as  strong  as  these  two  young  saplings,"  said 
he.  "  It  is  our  intention,  you  see,  to  tie  one  end 
of  each  rope  round  your  ankles  and  then  to  let 
the  trees  go.  If  you  are  stronger  than  the  trees, 
then,  of  course,  no  harm  would  be  done  ;  if,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  trees  are  stronger  than  you,  why. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       11$ 

in  that  case,  Colonel,  we  may  have  a  souvenir  of 
you  upon  each  side  of  our  little  glade." 

He  laughed  as  he  spoke,  and  at  the  sight  of 
it  the  whole  forty  of  them  laughed  also.  Even 
now  if  I  am  in  my  darker  humour,  or  if  I  have 
a  touch  of  my  old  Lithuanian  ague,  I  see  in  my 
sleep  that  ring  of  dark  savage  faces,  with  their 
cruel  eyes,  and  the  firelight  flashing  upon  their 
strong  white  teeth. 

It  is  astonishing — and  I  have  heard  many  make 
the  same  remark— how  acute  one's  senses  become 
at  such  a  crisis  as  this.  I  am  convinced  that  at 
no  moment  is  one  living  so  vividly,  so  acutely, 
as  at  the  instant  when  a  violent  and  foreseen 
death  overtakes  one.  I  could  smell  the  resinous 
fagots,  I  could  see  every  twig  upon  the  ground, 
I  could  hear  every  rustle  of  the  branches,  as  I 
have  never  smelled  or  seen  or  heard  save  at  such 
times  of  danger.  And  so  it  was  that  long  before 
anyone  else,  before  even  the  time  when  the  chief 
had  addressed  me,  I  had  heard  a  low,  monotonous 
sound,  far  away  indeed,  and  yet  coming  nearer 
at  every  instant.  At  first  it  was  but  a  murmur, 
a  rumble,  but  by  the  time  he  had  finished  speak- 
ing, while  the   assassins  were  untying    my  ankles 


Il6       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

in  order  to  lead  me  to  the  scene  of  my  murder, 
I  heard,  as  plainly  as  ever  I  heard  anything  in 
my  life,  the  clinking  of  horses  and  the  jingling 
of  bridle  chains,  with  the  clank  of  sabres  against 
stirrup-irons.  Is  it  likely  that  I,  who  had  lived 
with  the  light  cavalry  since  the  first  hair  shaded 
my  lip,  would  mistake  the  sound  of  troopers  on 
the  march  ? 

"  Help,  comrades,  help ! "  I  shrieked,  and 
though  they  struck  me  across  the  mouth  and  tried 
to  drag  me  up  to  the  trees  I  kept  on  yelling, 
"  Help  me,  my  brave  boys !  Help  me,  my  chil- 
dren !     They  are  murdering  your  colonel !  " 

For  the  moment  my  wounds  and  my  troubles 
had  brought  on  a  delirium,  and  I  looked  for  noth- 
ing less  than  my  five  hundred  hussars,  kettle- 
drums and  all,  to  appear  at  the  opening  of  the 
glade. 

But  that  which  really  appeared  was  very  dif- 
ferent to  anything  which  I  had  conceived.  Into 
the  clear  space  there  came  galloping  a  fine  young 
man  upon  a  most  beautiful  roan  horse.  He  was 
fresh-faced  and  pleasant-looking,  with  the  most 
debonair  bearing  in  the  world  and  the  most  gal- 
lant   way  of   carrying    himself— a   way  which   re- 


What  game  are  you  up  to  here  ? 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       11/ 

minded  me  somewhat  of  my  own.  He  wore  a 
singular  coat  which  had  once  been  red  all  over, 
but  which  was  now  stained  to  the  colour  of  a 
withered  oak  leaf  wherever  the  weather  could 
reach  it.  His  shoulder-straps,  however,  were  of 
golden  lace,  and  he  had  a  bright  metal  helmet 
upon  his  head,  with  a  coquettish  white  plume 
upon  one  side  of  its  crest.  He  trotted  his  horse 
up  the  glade,  while  behind  him  rode  four  cava- 
liers in  the  same  dress — all  clean-shaven,  with 
round,  comely  faces,  looking  to  me  more  like 
monks  than  dragoons.  At  a  short,  gruff  order 
they  halted  with  a  rattle  of  arms,  while  their 
leader  cantered  forward,  the  fire  beating  upon  his 
eager  face  and  the  beautiful  head  of  his  charger. 
I  knew,  of  course,  by  the  strange  coats  that  they 
were  English.  It  was  the  first  sight  that  I  had 
ever  had  of  them,  but  from  their  stout  bearing 
and  their  masterful  way  I  could  see  at  a  glance 
that  what  I  had  always  been  told  was  true,  and 
that  they  were  excellent  people  to  fight  against. 

"  Well,  well,  well ! "  cried  the  young  officer, 
in  sufficiently  bad  French,  *'  what  game  are  you 
up  to  here?  Who  was  that  who  was  yelling  for 
help,  and  what  are  you  trying  to  do  to  him?" 


Il8       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

It  was  at  that  moment  that  I  learned  to  bless 
those  months  which  Obriant,  the  descendant  of 
the  Irish  kings,  had  spent  in  teaching  me  the 
tongue  of  the  English.  My  ankles  had  just  been 
freed,  so  that  I  had  only  to  slip  my  hands  out  of 
the  cords,  and  with  a  single  rush  I  had  flown 
across,  picked  up  my  sabre  where  it  lay  by  the 
fire,  and  hurled  myself  on  to  the  saddle  of  poor  Vi- 
daFs  horse.  Yes,  for  all  my  wounded  ankle,  I 
never  put  foot  to  stirrup,  but  was  in  the  seat  in 
a  single  bound.  I  tore  the  halter  from  the  tree, 
and  before  these  villains  could  so  much  as  snap  a 
pistol  at  me  I  was  beside  the  English  officer. 

"  I  surrender  to  you,  sir,"  I  cried ;  though  I 
daresay  my  English  was  not  very  much  better 
than  his  French.  "  If  you  will  look  at  that  tree 
to  the  left  you  will  see  what  these  villains  do  to 
the  honourable  gentlemen  who  fall  into  their 
hands." 

The  fire  had  flared  up  at  that  moment,  and 
there  was  poor  Vidal  exposed  before  them,  as 
horrible  an  object  as  one  could  see  in  a  nightmare. 
"  Godam  !  "  cried  the  officer,  and  "  Godam  !  "  cried 
each  of  the  four  troopers,  which  is  the  same  as 
with  us  when  we  cry  "  Mon  Dieu  !  "     Out  rasped 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       II9 

the  five  swords,  and  the  four  men  closed  up.  One, 
who  wore  a  sergeant's  chevrons,  laughed  and 
clapped  me  on  the  shoulder. 

"  Fight  for  your  skin,  froggy,**  said  he. 

Ah,  it  was  so  fine  to  have  a  horse  between 
my  thighs  and  a  weapon  in  my  grip.  I  waved  it 
above  my  head  and  shouted  in  my  exultation. 
The  chief  had  come  forward  with  that  odious 
smiling  face  of  his. 

'*  Your  excellency  will  observe  that  this  French- 
man is  our  prisoner,**  said  he. 

*'  You  are  a  rascally  robber,**  said  the  English- 
man, shaking  his  sword  at  him.  "  It  is  a  disgrace 
to  us  to  have  such  allies.  By  my  faith,  if  Lord 
Wellington  were  of  my  mind  we  would  swing  you 
up  on  the  nearest  tree.** 

"  But  my  prisoner  ?  **  said  the  brigand,  in  his 
suave  voice. 

"  He  shall  come  with  us  to  the  British  camp.*' 

"  Just  a  word  in  your  ear  before  you  take 
him." 

He  approached  the  young  officer,  and  then, 
turning  as  quick  as  a  flash,  he  fired  his  pistol  in 
my  face.  The  bullet  scored  its  way  through  my 
hair  and  burst  a  hole  on  each   side  of  my  busby. 


120      THE   EXPLOITS   OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

Seeing  that  he  had  missed  me,  he  raised  the  pis- 
tol and  was  about  to  hurl  it  at  me  when  the  Eng- 
lish sergeant,  with  a  single  back-handed  cut,  nearly 
severed  his  head  from  his  body.  His  blood  had 
not  reached  the  ground,  nor  the  last  curse  died 
on  his  lips,  before  the  whole  horde  was  upon  us, 
but  with  a  dozen  bounds  and  as  many  slashes  we 
were  all  safely  out  of  the  glade,  and  galloping 
down  the  winding  track  which  led  to  the  valley. 
It  was  not  until  we  had  left  the  ravine  far  be- 
hind us  and  were  right  out  in  the  open  fields  that 
we  ventured  to  halt,  and  to  see  what  injuries  we 
had  sustained.  For  me,  wounded  and  weary 
as  I  was,  my  heart  was  beating  proudly,  and  my 
chest  was  nearly  bursting  my  tunic  to  think  that 
I,  Etienne  Gerard,  had  left  this  gang  of  murder- 
ers so  much  by  which  to  remember  me.  My 
faith,  they  would  think  twice  before  they  ventured 
again  to  lay  hands  upon  one  of  the  Third  Hus- 
sars. So  carried  away  was  I  that  I  made  a  small 
oration  to  these  brave  Englishmen,  and  told  them 
who  it  was  that  they  had  helped  to  rescue.  I 
would  have  spoken  of  glory  also,  and  of  the  sym- 
pathies of  brave  men,  but  the  officer  cut  me 
short. 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER   HELD  THE   KING.       121 

"  That's  all  right,"  said  he.  "  Any  injuries,  Ser- 
geant?" 

"  Trooper  Jones's  horse  hit  with  a  pistol  bullet 
on  the  fetlock." 

"  Trooper  Jones  to  go  with  us.  Sergeant  Hal- 
liday,  with  troopers  Harvey  and  Smith,  to  keep 
to  the  right  until  they  touch  the  vedettes  of  the 
German  Hussars." 

So  these  three  jingled  away  together,  while 
the  officer  and  I,  followed  at  some  distance  by 
the  trooper  whose  horse  had  been  wounded,  rode 
straight  down  in  the  direction  of  the  English 
camp.  Very  soon  we  had  opened  our  hearts,  for 
we  each  liked  the  look  of  the  other  from  the  be- 
ginning. He  was  of  the  nobility,  this  brave  lad, 
and  he  had  been  sent  out  scouting  by  Lord  Wel- 
lington to  see  if  there  were  any  signs  of  our  ad- 
vancing through  the  mountains.  It  is  one  advan- 
tage of  a  wandering  life  like  mine,  that  you  learn 
to  pick  up  those  bits  of  knowledge  which  distin- 
guish the  man  of  the  world.  I  have,  for  example, 
hardl)'^  ever  met  a  Frenchman  who  could  repeat 
an  English  title  correctly.  If  I  had  not  travelled 
I  should  not  be  able  to  say  with  confidence  that 
this  young  man's  real  name  was  Milor  the    Hon. 


122       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

Sir  Russell,  Bart.,  this  last  being  an  honourable 
distinction,  so  that  it  was  as  the  Bart  that  I  usu* 
ally  addressed  him,  just  as  in  Spanish  one  might 
say  "  the  Don." 

As  we  rode  beneath  the  moonlight  in  the  lovely 
Spanish  night,  we  spoke  our  minds  to  each  other, 
as  if  we  were  brothers.  We  were  both  of  an  age, 
you  see,  both  of  the  light  cavalry  also  (the  Six- 
teenth Light  Dragoons  was  his  regiment),  and 
both  with  the  same  hopes  and  ambitions.  Never 
have  I  learned  to  know  a  man  so  quickly  as  I  did 
the  Bart.  He  gave  me  the  name  of  a  girl  whom 
he  had  loved  at  a  garden  called  Vauxhall,  and,  for 
my  own  part,  I  spoke  to  him  of  little  Coralie,  of 
the  Opera.  He  took  a  lock  of  hair  from  his 
bosom,  and  I  a  garter.  Then  we  nearly  quarrelled 
over  hussar  and  dragoon,  for  he  was  absurdly 
proud  of  his  regiment,  and  you  should  have  seen 
him  curl  his  lip  and  clap  his  hand  to  his  hilt  when 
I  said  that  I  hoped  it  might  never  be  its  misfor- 
tune to  come  in  the  way  of  the  Third.  Finally, 
he  began  to  speak  about  what  the  English  call 
sport,  and  he  told  such  stories  of  the  money  which 
he  had  lost  over  which  of  two  cocks  could  kill 
the  other,  or  which  of  two  men  could  strike  the 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER   HELD  THE  KING.       1 23 

Other  the  most  in  a  fight  for  a  prize,  that  I  was 
filled  with  astonishment.  He  was  ready  to  bet 
upon  anything  in  the  most  wonderful  manner,  and 
when  I  chanced  to  see  a  shooting  star  he  was  anx- 
ious to  bet  that  he  would  see  more  than  me, 
twenty-five  francs  a  star,  and  it  was  only  when  I 
explained  that  my  purse  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
brigands  that  he  would  give  over  the  idea. 

Well,  we  chatted  away  in  this  very  amiable 
fashion  until  the  day  began  to  break,  when  sud- 
denly we  heard  a  great  volley  of  musketry  from 
somewhere  in  the  front  of  us.  It  was  very  rocky 
and  broken  ground,  and  I  thought,  although  I 
could  see  nothing,  that  a  general  engagement  had 
broken  out.  The  Bart  laughed  at  my  idea,  how- 
ever, and  explained  that  the  sound  came  from  the 
English  camp,  where  every  man  emptied  his  piece 
each  morning  so  as  to  make  sure  of  having  a  dry 
priming. 

"  In  another  mile  we  shall  be  up  with  the  out- 
posts," said  he. 

I  glanced  round  at  this,  and  I  perceived  that 
we  had  trotted  along  at  so  good  a  pace  during 
the  time  that  we  were  keeping  up  our  pleasant 
chat  that  the   dragoon  with  the   lame    horse  was 


124       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

altogether  out  of  sight.  I  looked  on  every  side, 
but  in  the  whole  of  that  vast  rocky  valley  there 
was  no  one  save  only  the  Bart  and  I — both  of  us 
armed,  you  understand,  and  both  of  us  well 
mounted.  I  began  to  ask  myself  whether  after 
all  it  was  quite  necessary  that  I  should  ride  that 
mile  which  would  bring  me  to  the  British  out- 
posts. 

Now,  I  wish  to  be  very  clear  with  you  on  this 
point,  my  friends,  for  I  would  not  have  you  think 
that  I  was  acting  dishonourably  or  ungratefully  to 
the  man  who  had  helped  me  away  from  the  brig- 
ands. You  must  remember  that  of  all  duties  the 
strongest  is  that  which  a  commanding  officer  owes 
to  his  men.  You  must  also  bear  in  mind  that  war 
is  a  game  which  is  played  under  fixed  rules,  and 
when  these  rules  are  broken  one  must  at  once 
claim  the  forfeit.  If,  for  example,  I  had  given  a 
parole,  then  I  should  have  been  an  infamous 
wretch  had  I  dreamed  of  escaping.  But  no  pa- 
role had  been  asked  of  me.  Out  of  over-con- 
fidence and  the  chance  of  the  lame  horse  dropping 
behind,  the  Bart  had  permitted  me  to  get  upon 
equal  terms  with  him.  Had  it  been  I  who  had 
taken  him,  I  should  have  used  him  as  courteously 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER    HELD   THE   KING.       12$ 

as  he  had  me,  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  should  have 
respected  his  enterprise  so  far  as  to  have  deprived 
him  of  his  sword,  and  seen  that  I  had  at  least  one 
guard  beside  myself.  I  reined  up  my  horse  and 
explained  this  to  him,  asking-  him  at  the  same  time 
whether  he  saw  any  breach  of  honour  in  my  leav- 
ing him. 

He  thought  about  it,  and  several  times  re- 
peated that  which  the  English  say  when  they 
mean  "  Mon  Dieu  !  " 

"  You  would  give  me  the  slip,  would  you  ? " 
said  he. 

"  If  you  can  give  no  reason  against  it  ?  " 

"  The  only  reason  that  I  can  think  of,"  said  the 
Bart,  "  is  that  I  should  instantly  cut  your  head  off 
if  you  were  to  attempt  it." 

"  Two  can  play  at  that  game,  my  dear  Bart," 
said  I. 

**  Then  we'll  see  who  can  play  at  it  best,"  he 
cried,  pulling  out  his  sword. 

I  had  drawn  mine  also,  but  I  was  quite  deter- 
mined not  to  hurt  this  admirable  young  man  who 
had  been  my  benefactor. 

**  Consider,"  said  I,  "  you  say  that  I  am  your 
prisoner.     I  might  with  equal  reason  say  that  you 


126       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

are  mine.  We  are  alone  here,  and  though  I  have 
no  doubt  that  you  are  an  excellent  swordsman, 
you  can  hardly  hope  to  hold  your  own  against 
the  best  blade  in  the  six  light  cavalry  bri- 
gades." 

His  answer  was  a  cut  at  my  head.  I  parried 
and  shored  off  half  of  his  white  plume.  He  thrust 
at  my  breast.  I  turned  his  point  and  cut  away 
the  other  half  of  his  cockade. 

"  Curse  your  monkey  tricks !  "  he  cried,  as  I 
wheeled  my  horse  away  from  him. 

"  Why  should  you  strike  at  me  ? "  said  I. 
"  You  see  that  I  will  not  strike  back." 

"  That's  all  very  well,"  said  he ;  "  but  you've 
got  to  come  along  with  me  to  the  camp." 

"  I  shall  never  see  the  camp,"  said  I. 

"  I'll  lay  you  nine  to  four  you  do,"  he  cried,  as 
he  made  at  me,  sword  in  hand. 

But  those  words  of  his  put  something  new 
into  my  head.  Could  we  not  decide  the  matter  in 
some  better  way  than  by  fighting  ?  The  Bart  was 
placing  me  in  such  a  position  that  I  should  have 
to  hurt  him,  or  he  would  certainly  hurt  me.  I 
avoided  his  rush,  though  his  sword-point  was 
within  an  inch  of  my  neck. 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER   HELD  THE   KING.       1 27 

"  I  have  a  proposal,"  I  cried.  **  We  shall  throw 
dice  as  to  which  is  the  prisoner  of  the  other.  " 

He  smiled  at  this.  It  appealed  to  his  love  of 
sport. 

"  Where  are  your  dice  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  I  have  none." 

"  Nor  I.     But  I  have  cards." 

"  Cards  let  it  be,"  said  I. 

"And  the  game?" 

"  I  leave  it  to  you." 

**  ficart6,  then — the  best  of  three." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  as  I  agreed,  for  I  do 
not  suppose  that  there  were  three  men  in  France 
who  were  my  masters  at  the  game.  I  told  the 
Bart  as  much  as  we  dismounted.  He  smiled  also 
as  he  listened. 

"  I  was  counted  the  best  player  at  Watier's," 
said  he.  "  With  even  luck  you  deserve  to  get  off 
if  you  beat  me." 

So  we  tethered  our  two  horses  and  sat  down 
one  on  either  side  of  a  great  flat  rock.  The  Bart 
took  a  pack  of  cards  out  of  his  tunic,  and  I  had 
only  to  see  him  shuffle  to  convince  me  that  I  had 
no  novice  to  deal  with.  We  cut,  and  the  deal  fell 
to  him. 


128       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

My  faith,  it  was  a  stake  worth  playing  for.  He 
wished  to  add  a  hundred  gold  pieces  a  game,  but 
what  was  money  when  the  fate  of  Colonel  Etienne 
Gerard  hung  upon  the  cards?  I  felt  as  though 
all  those  who  had  reason  to  be  interested  in  the 
game :  my  mother,  my  hussars,  the  Sixth  Corps 
d'Armee,  Ney,  Massena,  even  the  Emperor  him- 
self, were  forming  a  ring  round  us  in  that  desolate 
valley.  Heavens,  what  a  blow  to  one  and  all  of 
them  should  the  cards  go  against  me  !  But  I  was 
confident,  for  my  6cart6  play  was  as  famous  as  my 
swordsmanship,  and  save  old  Bouvet  of  the  Hus- 
sars of  Bercheny,  who  won  seventy-six  out  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  games  off  me,  I  have  always  had 
the  best  of  a  series. 

The  first  game  I  won  right  off,  though  I  must 
confess  that  the  cards  were  with  me,  and  that  my 
adversary  could  have  done  no  more.  In  the 
second,  I  never  played  better  and  saved  a  trick 
by  a  finesse,  but  the  Bart  voled  me  once,  marked 
the  king,  and  ran  out  in  the  second  hand.  My 
faith,  we  were  so  excited  that  he  laid  his  helmet 
down  beside  him  and  I  my  busby. 

"I'll  lay  my  roan  mare  against  your  black 
horse,"  said  he. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER    HELD   THE    KING.       I29 

"Done!"  said  I. 

"  Sword  against  sword." 

"  Done  !  "  said  I. 

**  Saddle,  bridle,  and  stirrups ! "  he  cried. 

*'Done!"  I  shouted. 

I  had  caught  this  spirit  of  sport  from  him.  I 
would  have  laid  my  hussars  against  his  dragoons 
had  they  been  ours  to  pledge. 

And  then  began  the  game  of  games.  Oh,  he 
played,  this  Englishman — he  played  in  a  way  that 
was  worthy  of  such  a  stake.  But  I,  my  friends, 
1  was  superb !  Of  the  five  which  I  had  to  make  to 
win,  I  gained  three  on  the  first  hand.  The  Bart 
bit  his  moustache  and  drummed  his  hands,  while  1 
already  felt  myself  the  head  of  at  my  dear  little 
rascals.  On  the  second,  I  turned  the  king,  but  lost 
two  tricks — and  my  score  was  four  to  his  two. 
When  I  saw  my  next  hand  I  could  not  but  give 
a  cry  of  delight.  "  If  I  cannot  gain  my  freedom 
on  this,"  thought  I,  "  I  deserve  to  remain  for  ever 
in  chains.** 

Give  me  the  cards,  landlord,  and  I  will  lay 
them  out  on  the  table  for  you. 

Here  was  my  hand :  knave  and  ace  of  clubs, 
queen  and  knave  of  diamonds,  and  king  of  hearts. 


I30       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

Clubs  were  trumps,  mark  you,  and  I  had  but  one 
point  between  me  and  freedom.  As  you  may 
think,  I  declined  his  proposal.  He  knew  that  it 
was  the  crisis,  and  he  undid  his  tunic.  I  threw 
my  dolman  on  the  ground.  He  led  the  ten  of 
spades.  I  took  it  with  my  ace  of  trumps.  One 
point  in  my  favour.  The  correct  play  was  to 
clear  the  trumps,  and  I  led  the  knave.  Down 
came  the  queen  upon  it,  and  the  game  was  equal. 
He  led  the  eight  of  spades,  and  I  could  only  dis- 
card my  queen  of  diamonds.  Then  came  the 
seven  of  spades,  and  the  hair  stood  straight  up 
on  my  head.  We  each  threw  down  a  king  at  the 
final.  He  had  won  two  points,  and  my  beautiful 
hand  had  been  mastered  by  his  inferior  one.  I 
could  have  rolled  on  the  ground  as  I  thought  of 
it.  They  used  to  play  very  good  ^carte  at  Wa- 
tier's  in  the  year  'lo.  I  say  it — I,  Brigadier  Ge- 
rard. 

The  last  game  was  now  four  all.  This  next 
hand  must  settle  it  one  way  or  the  other.  He  un- 
did his  sash,  and  I  put  away  my  sword  belt.  He 
was  cool,  this  Englishman,  and  I  tried  to  be  so 
also,  but  the  perspiration  would  trickle  into  my 
eyes.     The  deal  lay  with  him,  and  I  may  confess 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   HELD   THE   KING.       I3I 

to  you,  my  friends,  that  my  hands  shook  so  that 
I  could  hardly  pick  my  cards  from  the  rock.  But 
when  I  raised  them,  what  was  the  first  thing  that 
my  eyes  rested  upon.  It  was  the  king,  the  king, 
the  glorious  king  of  trumps!  My  mouth  was 
open  to  declare  it  when  the  words  were  frozen 
upon  my  lips  by  the  appearance  of  my  comrade. 

He  held  his  cards  in  his  hand,  but  his  jaw  had 
fallen,  and  his  eyes  were  staring  over  my  shoulder 
with  the  most  dreadful  expression  of  consterna- 
tion and  surprise.  I  whisked  round,  and  I  was 
myself  amazed  at  what  I  saw. 

Three  men  were  standing  quite  close  to  us— 
fifteen  metres  at  the  furthest.  The  middle  one 
was  of  a  good  height,  and  yet  not  too  tall— about 
the  same  height,  in  fact,  that  I  am  myself.  He 
was  clad  in  a  dark  uniform  with  a  small  cocked 
hat,  and  some  sort  of  white  plume  upon  the  side. 
But  I  had  little  thought  of  his  dress.  It  was  his 
face,  his  gaunt  cheeks,  his  beak-like  nose,  his  mas- 
terful blue  eyes,  his  thin,  firm  slit  of  a  mouth 
which  made  one  feel  that  this  was  a  wonderful 
man,  a  man  of  a  million.  His  brows  were  tied 
into  a  knot,  and  he  cast  such  a  glance  at  my 
poor  Bart  from  under  them   that  one  by  one  the 


132      THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

cards  came  fluttering  down  from  his  nerveless 
fingers.  Of  the  two  other  men,  one,  who  had  a 
face  as  brown  and  hard  as  though  it  had  been 
carved  out  of  old  oak,  wore  a  bright  red  coat, 
while  the  other,  a  fine  portly  man  with  bushy 
side-whiskers,  was  in  a  blue  jacket  with  gold  fa- 
cings. Some  little  distance  behind,  three  orderlies 
were  holding  as  many  horses,  and  an  escort  of 
lancers  was  waiting  in  the  rear. 

"Heh,  Crauford,  what  the  deuce  is  this?" 
asked  the  thin  man. 

"  D'you  hear,  sir?"  cried  the  man  with  the 
red  coat.  "  Lord  Wellington  wants  to  know  what 
this  means." 

My  poor  Bart  broke  into  an  account  of  all 
that  had  occurred,  but  that  rock-face  never  soft- 
ened for  an  instant. 

"  Pretty  fine,  'pon  my  word,  General  Crau- 
ford," he  broke  in.  "The  discipline  of  this  force 
must  be  maintained,  sir.  Report  yourself  at  head- 
quarters as  a  prisoner." 

It  was  dreadful  to  me  to  see  the  Bart  mount 
his  horse  and  ride  off  with  hanging  head.  I  could 
not  endure  it.  I  threw  myself  before  this  Eng- 
lish General.     I  pleaded  with  him  for  my  friend. 


*^^. 


The  cards  fluttered  from  his  nerveless  fingers. 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER  HELD  THE   KING.       1 33 

I  told  him  how  I,  Colonel  Gerard,  would  witness 
what  a  dashing  young  officer  he  was.  Ah,  my 
eloquence  might  have  melted  the  hardest  heart ; 
I  brought  tears  to  my  own  eyes,  but  none  to  his. 
My  voice  broke  and  I  could  say  no  more. 

*'  What  weight  do  you  put  on  your  mules,  sir, 
in  the  French  service  ?  "  he  asked.  Yes,  that  was 
all  this  phlegmatic  Englishman  had  to  answer  to 
these  burning  words  of  mine.  That  was  his  reply 
to  what  would  have  made  a  Frenchman  weep 
upon  my  shoulder. 

"What  weight  on  a  mule?"  asked  the  man 
with  the  red  coat. 

"  Two  hundred  and  ten  pounds,"  said  I. 

"Then  you  load  them  deucedly  badly,"  said 
Lord  Wellington.  "Remove  the  prisoner  to  the 
rear." 

His  Lancers  closed  in  upon  me,  and  I — I  was 
driven  mad,  as  I  thought  that  the  game  had  been 
in  my  hands,  and  that  I  ought  at  that  moment 
to  be  a  free  man.  I  held  the  cards  up  in  front 
of  the  General. 

"  See,  my  lord ! "  I  cried ;  I  played  for  my 
freedom  and  I  won,  for  as  you  perceive,  I  hold 
the  king." 


134      THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

For  the  first  time  a  slight  smile  softened  his 
gaunt  face. 

"  On  the  contrary,"  said  he,  as  he  mounted 
his  horse,  "  it  was  I  who  won,  for,  as  you  perceive, 
my  king  holds  you." 


IV. 

HOW  THE   KING   HELD   THE  BRIGADIER. 

MURAT  was  undoubtedly  an  excellent  cavalry 
officer,  but  he  had  too  much  swagger,  which  spoils 
many  a  good  soldier.  Lasalle,  too,  was  a  very 
dashing  leader,  but  he  ruined  himself  with  wine 
and  folly.  Now  I,  Etienne  Gerard,  was  always 
totally  devoid  of  swagger,  and  at  the  same  time 
I  was  very  abstemious,  except,  maybe,  at  the  end 
of  a  campaign,  or  when  I  met  an  old  comrade-in- 
arms. For  these  reasons  I  might,  perhaps,  had  it 
not  been  for  a  certain  diffidence,  have  claimed  to 
be  the  most  valuable  officer  in  my  own  branch  of 
the  Service.  It  is  true  that  I  never  rose  to  be 
more  than  a  chief  of  brigade,  but  then,  as  everyone 
knows,  no  one  had  a  chance  of  rising  to  the  top  un- 
less he  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  with  the  Emper- 
or in  his  early  campaigns.  Except  Lasalle,  and 
Lobau,  and  Drouet,  I    can  hardly  remember  any 

135 


136       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

one  of  the  generals  who  had  not  already  made  his 
name  before  the  Egyptian  business.  Even  I,  with 
all  my  brilliant  qualities,  could  only  attain  the  head 
of  my  brigade,  and  also  the  special  medal  of  honour, 
which  I  received  from  the  Emperor  himself,  and 
which  I  keep  at  home  in  a  leathern  pouch.  But 
though  I  never  rose  higher  than  this,  my  qualities 
were  very  well  known  to  those  who  had  served 
with  me,  and  also  to  the  English.  After  they 
had  captured  me  in  the  way  which  I  described 
to  you  the  other  night,  they  kept  a  very  good 
guard  over  me  at  Oporto,  and  I  promise  you  that 
they  did  not  give  such  a  formidable  opponent  a 
chance  of  slipping  through  their  fingers.  It  was 
on  the  loth  of  August  that  I  was  escorted  on 
board  the  transport  which  was  to  take  us  to  Eng- 
land, and  behold  me  before  the  end  of  the  month 
in  the  great  prison  which  had  been  built  for  us  at 
Dartmoor !  "  L'hotel  Frangais,  et  Pension,"  we 
used  to  call  it,  for  you  understand  that  we  were 
all  brave  men  there,  and  that  we  did  not  lose  our 
spirits  because  we  were  in  adversity. 

It  was  only  those  officers  who  refused  to  give 
their  parole  who  were  confined  at  Dartmoor,  and 
most  of  the  prisoners  were  seamen,  or  from  the 


HOW  THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 3/ 

ranks.  You  ask  me,  perhaps,  why  it  was  that  I 
did  not  give  this  parole,  and  so  enjoy  the  same 
good  treatment  as  most    of   my   brother  officers. 

Well,  I  had  two  reasons,  and  both  of  them 
were  sufficiently  strong. 

In  the  first  place,  I  had  so  much  confidence 
in  myself,  that  I  was  quite  convinced  that  I  could 
escape.  In  the  second,  my  family,  though  of  good 
repute,  has  never  been  wealthy,  and  I  could  not 
bring  myself  to  take  anything  from  the  small  in- 
come of  my  mother.  On  the  other  hand,  it  would 
never  do  for  a  man  like  me  to  be  outshone  by  the 
bourgeois  society  of  an  English  country  town,  or 
to  be  without  the  means  of  showing  courtesies  and 
attentions  to  those  ladies  whom  I  should  attract. 
It  was  for  these  reasons  that  I  preferred  to  be 
buried  in  the  dreadful  prison  of  Dartmoor.  I 
wish  now  to  tell  you  of  my  adventures  in  Eng- 
land, and  of  how  far  Milor  Wellington's  words 
were  true  when  he  said  that  his  king  would  hold 
me. 

And  first  of  all  I  may  say  that  if  it  were  not 
that  I  have  set  off  to  tell  you  about  what  befell 
myself,  I  could  keep  you  here  until  morning  with 
my  stories  about  Dartmoor  itself,  and   about  the 


138       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

singular  things  which  occurred  there.  It  was  one 
of  the  very  strangest  places  in  the  whole  world, 
for  there,  in  the  middle  of  that  great  desolate 
waste,  were  herded  together  seven  or  eight  thou- 
sand men — warriors,  you  understand,  men  of  ex- 
perience and  courage.  Around  there  were  a 
double  wall  and  a  ditch,  and  warders,  and  sol- 
diers, but,  my  faith !  you  could  not  coop  men  like 
that  up  like  rabbits  in  a  hutch  !  They  would  es- 
cape by  twos  and  tens  and  twenties,  and  then  the 
cannon  would  boom,  and  the  search  parties  run, 
and  we,  who  were  left  behind,  would  laugh  and 
dance  and  shout  "  Vive  I'Empereur,"  until  the 
warders  would  turn  their  muskets  upon  us  in  their 
passion.  And  then  we  would  have  our  little  mu- 
tinies too,  and  up  would  come  the  infantry  and 
the  guns  from  Plymouth,  and  that  would  set  us 
yelling  "  Vive  TEmpereur  **  once  more,  as  though 
we  wished  them  to  hear  us  in  Paris.  We  had 
lively  moments  at  Dartmoor,  and  we  contrived 
that  those  who  were  about  us  should  be  lively 
also. 

You  must  know  that  the  prisoners  there  had 
their  own  Courts  of  Justice,  in  which  they  tried 
their  own  cases,  and   inflicted   their  own  punish- 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 39 

ments.  Stealing  and  quarrelling  were  punished 
— but  most  of  all  treachery.  When  I  came  there 
first  there  was  a  man,  Meunier,  from  Rheims,  who 
had  given  information  of  some  plot  to  escape. 
Well,  that  night,  owing  to  some  form  or  other 
which  had  to  be  gone  through,  they  did  not  take 
him  out  from  among  the  other  prisoners,  and 
though  he  wept  and  screamed,  and  grovelled  upon 
the  ground,  they  left  him  there  amongst  the  com- 
rades whom  he  had  betrayed.  That  night  there 
was  a  trial  with  a  whispered  accusation  and  a 
whispered  defence,  a  gagged  prisoner,  and  a  judge 
whom  none  could  see.  In  the  morning,  when  they 
came  for  their  man  with  papers  for  his  release, 
there  was  not  as  much  of  him  left  as  you  could  put 
upon  your  thumb  nail.  They  were  ingenious  peo- 
ple, these  prisoners,  and  they  had  their  own  way 
of  managing. 

We  officers,  however,  lived  in  a  separate  wing, 
and  a  very  singular  group  of  people  we  were. 
They  had  left  us  our  uniforms,  so  that  there  was 
hardly  a  corps  which  had  served  under  Victor,  or 
Massena,  or  Ney,  which  was  not  represented  there, 
and   some  had    been   there    from    the    time  when 

Junot  was  beaten  at  Vimiera.     We  had  chasseurs 
10 


140       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

in  their  green  tunics,  and  hussars,  like  myself,  and 
blue-coated  dragoons,  and  white-fronted  lancers, 
and  voltigeurs,  and  grenadiers,  and  men  of  the 
artillery  and  engineers.  But  the  greater  part  were 
naval  officers,  for  the  English  had  had  the  bet- 
ter of  us  upon  the  seas.  I  could  never  understand 
this  until  I  journeyed  myself  from  Oporto  to  Plym- 
outh, when  1  lay  for  seven  days  upon  my  back, 
and  could  not  have  stirred  had  I  seen  the  eagle 
of  the  regiment  carried  off  before  my  eyes.  It 
was  in  perfidious  weather  like  this  that  Nelson 
took  advantage  of  us. 

I  had  no  sooner  got  into  Dartmoor  than  I  be- 
gan to  plan  to  get  out  again,  and  you  can  readily 
believe  that  with  wits  sharpened  by  twelve  years 
of  warfare,  it  was  not  very  long  before  I  saw  my 
way. 

You  must  know,  in  the  first  place,  that  I  had 
a  very  great  advantage  in  having  some  knowledge 
of  the  English  language.  I  learned  it  during  the 
months  that  I  spent  before  Danzig,  from  Adjutant 
Obriant,  of  the  Regiment  Irlandais,  who  was 
sprung  from  the  ancient  kings  of  the  country.  I 
was  quickly  able  to  speak  it  with  some  facility, 
for  I    do    not    take    long    to    master  anything    to 


.rtM*v. 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       I4I 

which  I  set  my  mind.  In  three  months  I  could 
not  only  express  my  meaning,  but  I  could  use 
the  idioms  of  the  people.  It  was  Obriant  who 
taught  me  to  say  *'  Be  jabers,"  just  as  we  might 
say  "  Ma  foi  "  ;  and  also  **  The  curse  of  Crummle  !  " 
which  means  "  Ventre  bleu ! "  Many  a  time  I 
have  seen  the  English  smile  with  pleasure  when 
they  have  heard  me  speak  so  much  like  one  of 
themselves. 

We  officers  were  put  two  in  a  cell,  which  was 
very  little  to  my  taste,  for  my  room-mate  was  a 
tall,  silent  man  named  Beaumont,  of  the  Flying 
Artillery,  who  had  been  taken  by  the  English 
cavalry  at  Astorga. 

It  is  seldom  I  meet  a  man  of  whom  I  cannot 
make  a  friend,  for  my  disposition  and  manners  are 
— as  you  know  them.  But  this  fellow  had  never  a 
smile  for  my  jests,  nor  an  ear  for  my  sorrows,  but 
would  sit  looking  at  me  with  his  sullen  eyes,  until 
sometimes  I  thought  that  his  two  years  of  cap- 
tivity had  driven  him  crazy.  Ah,  how  I  longed 
that  old  Bouvet,  or  any  of  my  comrades  of  the 
hussars,  was  there,  instead  of  this  mummy  of  a 
man.  But  such  as  he  was  I  had  to  make  the  best 
of  him,  and  it  was  very  evident   that   no  escape 


142       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

could  be  made  unless  he  were  my  partner  in  it, 
for  what  could  I  possibly  do  without  his  observ- 
ing me  ?  I  hinted  at  it,  therefore,  and  then  by 
degrees  I  spoke  more  plainly,  until  it  seemed  to 
me  that  I  had  prevailed  upon  him  to  share  my 
lot. 

I  tried  the  walls,  and  I  tried  the  floor,  and  I 
tried  the  ceiling,  but  though  I  tapped  and  probed, 
they  all  appeared  to  be  very  thick  and  solid.  The 
door  was  of  iron,  shutting  with  a  spring  lock,  and 
provided  with  a  small  grating,  through  which  a 
warder  looked  twice  in  every  night.  Within  there 
were  two  beds,  two  stools,  two  washstands — noth- 
ing more.  It  was  enough  for  my  wants,  for  when 
had  I  had  as  much  during  those  twelve  years 
spent  in  camps?  But  how  was  I  to  get  out? 
Night  after  night  I  thought  of  my  five  hundred 
hussars,  and  had  dreadful  nightmares,  in  which  I 
fancied  that  the  whole  regiment  needed  shoeing, 
or  that  my  horses  were  all  bloated  with  green  fod- 
der, or  that  they  were  foundered  from  bogland,  or 
that  six  squadrons  were  clubbed  in  the  presence  of 
the  Emperor.  Then  1  would  awake  in  a  cold 
sweat,  and  set  to  work  picking  and  tapping  at  the 
walls  once  more ;  for  I  knew  very  well  that  there 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       I43 

is  no  difficulty  which   cannot  be  overcome  by  a 
ready  brain  and  a  pair  of  cunning  hands. 

There  was  a  single  window  in  our  cell,  which 
was  too  small  to  admit  a  child.  It  was  further  de- 
fended by  a  thick  iron  bar  in  the  centre.  It  was 
not  a  very  promising  point  of  escape,  as  you  will 
allow,  but  I  became  more  and  more  convinced  that 
our  efforts  must  be  directed  towards  it.  To  make 
matters  worse,  it  only  led  out  into  the  exercise 
yard,  which  was  surrounded  by  two  high  walls. 
Still,  as  I  said  to  my  sullen  comrade,  it  is  time  to 
talk  of  the  Vistula  when  you  are  over  the  Rhine. 
I  got  a  small  piece  of  iron,  therefore,  from  the  fit- 
tings of  my  bed,  and  I  set  to  work  to  loosen  the 
plaster  at  the  top  and  the  bottom  of  the  bar. 
Three  hours  I  would  work,  and  then  leap  into  my 
bed  upon  the  sound  of  the  warder's  step.  Then 
another  three  hours,  and  then  very  often  another 
yet,  for  I  found  that  Beaumont  was  so  slow  and 
clumsy  at  it  that  it  was  on  myself  only  that  I  could 
rely.  I  pictured  to  myself  my  Third  of  Hussars 
waiting  just  outside  that  window,  with  kettledrums 
and  standards  and  leopard-skin  schabraques  all 
complete.  Then  I  would  work  and  work  like  a 
madman,   until    my   iron   was    crusted    with    my 


144       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

blood,  as  if  with  rust.  And  so,  night  by  night,  I 
loosened  that  stony  plaster,  and  hid  it  away  in 
the  stuffing  of  my  pillow,  until  the  hour  came 
when  the  iron  shook  ;  and  then  with  one  good 
wrench  it  came  off  in  my  hand,  and  my  first  step 
had  been  made  towards  freedom. 

You  will  ask  me  what  better  off  I  was,  since, 
as  I  have  said,  a  child  could  not  have  fitted 
through  the  opening.  I  will  tell  you.  I  had 
gained  two  things — a  tool  and  a  weapon.  With 
the  one  I  might  loosen  the  stone  which  flanked 
the  window.  With  the  other  I  might  defend  my- 
self when  I  had  scrambled  through.  So  now  I 
turned  my  attention  to  that  stone,  and  I  picked 
and  picked  with  the  sharpened  end  of  my  bar 
until  I  had  worked  out  the  mortar  all  round. 
You  understand,  of  course,  that  during  the  day 
I  replaced  everything  in  its  position,  and  that  the 
warder  was  never  permitted  to  see  a  speck  upon 
the  floor.  At  the  end  of  three  weeks  I  had  sepa- 
rated the  stone,  and  had  the  rapture  of  drawing 
it  through,  and  seeing  a  hole  left  with  ten  stars 
shining  through  it,  where  there  had  been  but  four 
before.  All  was  ready  for  us  now,  and  I  replaced 
the  stone,  smearing  the  edges  of  it  round  with  a 


^HOW   THE    KING    HELD   THE    BRIGADIER.       I45 

little  fat  and  soot,  so  as  to  hide  the  cracks  where 
the  mortar  should  have  been.  In  three  nights  the 
moon  would  be  gone,  and  that  seemed  the  best 
time  for  our  attempt. 

I  had  now  no  doubt  at  all  about  getting  into 
the  yard,  but  I  had  very  considerable  misgivings 
as  to  how  I  was  to  get  out  again.  It  would  be 
too  humiliating,  after  trying  here,  and  trying 
there,  to  have  to  go  back  to  my  hole  again  in 
despair,  or  to  be  arrested  by  the  guards  outside, 
and  thrown  into  those  damp  underground  cells 
which  are  reserved  for  prisoners  who  are  caught 
in  escaping.  I  set  to  work,  therefore,  to  plan 
what  I  should  do.  I  have  never,  as  you  know, 
had  the  chance  of  showing  what  I  could  do  as  a 
general.  Sometimes,  after  a  glass  or  two  of  wine, 
I  have  found  myself  capable  of  thinking  out 
surprising  combinations,  and  have  felt  that  if 
Napoleon  had  intrusted  me  with  an  army  corps, 
things  might  have  gone  differently  with  him. 
But  however  that  may  be,  there  is  no  doubt 
that  in  the  small  stratagems  of  war,  and  in  that 
quickness  of  invention  which  is  so  necessary  for 
an  officer  of  light  cavalry,  I  could  hold  my 
own   against    anyone.      It   was    now   that    I    had 


146       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

need  of  it,  and  I  felt  sure  that  it  would  not  fail 
me. 

The  inner  wall  which  I  had  to  scale  was  built 
of  bricks,  twelve  feet  high,  with  a  row  of  iron 
spikes,  three  inches  apart,  upon  the  top.  The 
outer  I  had  only  caught  a  glimpse  of  once  or 
twice,  when  the  gate  of  the  exercise  yard  was 
open.  It  appeared  to  be  about  the  same  height, 
and  was  also  spiked  at  the  top.  The  space  be- 
tween the  walls  was  over  twenty  feet,  and  I 
had  reason  to  believe  that  there  were  no  sentries 
there,  except  at  the  gates.  On  the  other  hand, 
I  knew  that  there  was  a  line  of  soldiers  outside. 
Behold  the  little  nut,  my  friends,  which  I  had  to 
open  with  no  crackers,  save  these  two  hands. 

One  thing  upon  which  I  relied  was  the  height 
of  my  comrade  Beaumont.  I  have  already  said 
that  he  was  a  very  tall  man,  six  feet  at  least,  and 
it  seemed  to  me  that  if  I  could  mount  upon  his 
shoulders,  and  get  my  hands  upon  the  spikes,  I 
could  easily  scale  the  wall.  Could  I  pull  my  big 
companion  up  after  me?  That  was  the  question, 
for  when  I  set  forth  with  a  comrade,  even  though 
it  be  one  for  whom  I  bear  no  affection,  nothing 
on   earth   would    make    me    abandon   him.      If   I 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       I47 

climbed  the  wall  and  he  could  not  follow  me,  I 
should  be  compelled  to  return  to  him.  He  did  not 
seem  to  concern  himself  much  about  it,  however, 
so  I  hoped  that  he  had  confidence  in  his  own  ac- 
tivity. 

Then  another  very  important  matter  was  the 
choice  of  the  sentry  who  should  be  on  duty  in 
front  of  my  window  at  the  time  of  our  attempt. 
They  were  changed  every  two  hours  to  insure 
their  vigilance,  but  I,  who  watched  them  closely 
each  night  out  of  my  window,  knew  that  there 
was  a  great  difference  between  them.  There  were 
some  who  were  so  keen  that  a  rat  could  not  cross 
the  yard  unseen,  while  others  thought  only  of  their 
own  ease,  and  could  sleep  as  soundly  leaning  upon 
a  musket  as  if  they  were  at  home  upon  a  feather 
bed.  There  was  one  especially,  a  fat,  heavy  man, 
who  would  retire  into  the  shadow  of  the  wall  and 
doze  so  comfortably  during  his  two  hours,  that  I 
have  dropped  pieces  of  plaster  from  my  window  at 
his  very  feet,  without  his  observing  it.  By  good 
luck,  this  fellow's  watch  was  due  from  twelve  to 
two  upon  the  night  which  we  had  fixed  upon  for 
our  enterprise. 

As  the   last   day   passed,  I  was   so  filled  with 


148      THE    EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GBRARD. 

nervous  agitation  that  I  could  not  control  myself, 
but  ran  ceaselessly  about  my  cell,  like  a  mouse  in  a 
cage.  Every  moment  I  thought  that  the  warder 
would  detect  the  looseness  of  the  bar,  or  that  the 
sentry  would  observe  the  unmortared  stone,  which 
I  could  not  conceal  outside,  as  I  did  within.  As 
for  my  companion,  he  sat  brooding  upon  the  end 
of  his  bed,  looking  at  me  in  a  sidelong  fashion 
from  time  to  time,  and  biting  his  nails  like  one  who 
is  deep  in  thought. 

"  Courage,  my  friend  ! "  I  cried,  slapping  him 
upon  the  shoulder.  "  You  will  see  your  guns  be- 
fore another  month  be  past." 

''  That  is  very  well,"  said  he.  "  But  whither 
will  you  fly  when  you  get  free  ?  " 

"  To  the  coast,"  I  answered.  "  All  comes  right 
for  a  brave  man,  and  I  shall  make  straight  for  my 
regiment." 

"  You  are  more  likely  to  make  straight  for  the 
underground  cells,  or  for  the  Portsmouth  hulks," 
said  he. 

*'  A  soldier  takes  his  chances,"  I  remarked.  "  It 
is  only  the  poltroon  who  reckons  always  upon  the 
worst." 

I  raised  a  flush  in  each  of  his  sallow  cheeks  at 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       I49 

that,  and  I  was  glad  of  it,  for  it  was  the  first  sign 
of  spirit  which  I  had  ever  observed  in  him.  For  a 
moment  he  put  his  hand  out  towards  his  water  jug, 
as  though  he  would  have  hurled  it  at  me,  but  then 
he  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  sat  in  silence  once 
more,  biting  his  nails,  and  scowling  down  at  the 
floor.  I  could  not  but  think,  as  I  looked  at  him, 
that  perhaps  I  was  doing  the  Flying  Artillery  a 
very  bad  service  by  bringing  him  back  to  them. 

I  never  in  my  life  have  known  an  evening  pass 
as  slowly  as  that  one.  Towards  nightfall  a  wind 
sprang  up,  and  as  the  darkness  deepened  it  blew 
harder  and  harder,  until  a  terrible  gale  was  whis- 
tling over  the  moor.  As  I  looked  out  of  my  win- 
dow I  could  not  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  star,  and  the 
black  clouds  were  flying  low  across  the  heavens. 
The  rain  was  pouring  down,  and  what  with  its  hiss- 
ing and  splashing,  and  the  howling  and  screaming 
of  the  wind,  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  hear  the 
steps  of  the  sentinels.  **  If  I  cannot  hear  them," 
thought  I,  "then  it  is  unlikely  that  they  can  hear 
me " ;  and  I  waited  with  the  utmost  impatience 
until  the  time  when  the  inspector  should  have 
come  round  for  his  nightly  peep  through  our  grat- 
ing.    Then  having  peered  through  the  darkness, 


I50       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

and  seen  nothing  of  the  sentry,  who  was  doubtless 
crouching  in  some  corner  out  of  the  rain,  I  felt 
that  the  moment  was  come.  I  removed  the  bar, 
pulled  out  the  stone,  and  motioned  to  my  compan- 
ion to  pass  through. 

**  After  you,  colonel,"  said  he. 

"  Will  you  not  go  first  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  had  rather  you  showed  me  the  way." 

"  Come  after  me,  then,  but  come  silently,  as  you 
value  your  life." 

In  the  darkness  I  could  hear  the  fellow's  teeth 
chattering,  and  I  wondered  whether  a  man  ever 
had  such  a  partner  in  a  desperate  enterprise.  I 
seized  the  bar,  however,  and  mounting  upon  my 
stool,  I  thrust  my  head  and  shoulders  into  the 
hole.  I  had  wriggled  through  as  far  as  my  waist, 
when  my  companion  seized  me  suddenly  by  the 
knees,  and  yelled  at  the  top  of  his  voice  :  "  Help  ! 
Help  !     A  p^soner  is  escaping  !  " 

Ah,  my  friends,  what  did  I  not  feel  at  that 
moment!  Of  course,  I  saw  in  an  instant  the  game 
of  this  vile  creature.  Why  should  he  risk  his  skin 
in  climbing  walls  when  he  might  be  sure  of  a  free 
pardon  from  the  English  for  having  prevented 
the  escape  of  one  so  much  more  distinguished  than 


*'  Help  !   help  !     A  prisoner  is  escaping  !  " 


I 


HOW  THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       151 

himself  ?  I  had  recognised  him  as  a  poltroon  and 
a  sneak,  but  I  had  not  understood  the  depth  of 
baseness  to  which  he  could  descend.  One  who 
has  spent  his  life  among  gentlemen  and  men  of 
honour  does  not  think  of  such  things  until  they 
happen. 

The  blockhead  did  not  seem  to  understand 
that  he  was  lost  more  certainly  than  I.  I  writhed 
back  in  the  darkness,  and  seizing  him  by  the  throat 
I  struck  him  twice  with  my  iron  bar.  At  the  first 
blow  he  yelped  as  a  little  cur  does  when  you  tread 
upon  its  paw.  At  the  second,  down  he  fell  with  a 
groan  upon  the  floor.  Then  I  seated  myself  upon 
my  bed,  and  waited  resignedly  for  whatever  pun- 
ishment my  gaolers  might  inflict  upon  me. 

But  a  minute  passed  and  yet  another,  with  no 
sound  save  the  heavy,  snoring,  breathing  of  the 
senseless  wretch  upon  the  floor.  Was  it  possible, 
then,  that  amid  the  fury  of  the  storm  his  warning 
cries  had  passed  unheeded  ?  At  first  it  was  but 
a  tiny  hope,  another  minute  and  it  was  probable, 
another  and  it  was  certain.  There  was  no  sound 
in  the  corridor,  none  in  the  courtyard.  I  wiped 
the  cold  sweat  from  my  brow,  and  asked  myself 
what  I  should  do  next. 


152      THE   EXPLOITS   OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

One  thing  seemed  certain.  Tlie  man  on  the 
floor  must  die..  If  I  left  him  I  could  not  tell 
how  short  a  time  it  might  be  before  he  gave  the 
alarm.  I  dare  not  strike  a  light,  so  I  felt  about 
in  the  darkness  until  my  hand  came  upon  some- 
thing wet,  which  I  knew  to  be  his  head.  I  raised 
my  iron  bar,  but  there  was  something,  my  friends, 
which  prevented  me  from  bringing  it  down.  In 
the  heat  of  fight  I  have  slain  many  men — men  of 
honour  too,  who  had  done  me  no  injury.  Yet 
here  was  this  wretch,  a  creature  too  foul  to  live, 
who  had  tried  to  work  me  so  great  a  mischief, 
and  yet  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  crush  his 
skull  in.  Such  deeds  are  very  well  for  a  Spanish 
partida — or  for  that  matter  a  sans-culotte  of  the 
Faubourg  St.  Antoine — but  not  for  a  soldier  and 
a  gentleman  like  me. 

However,  the  heavy  breathing  of  the  fellow 
made  me  hope  that  it  might  be  a  very  long  time 
before  he  recovered  his  senses.  I  gagged  him 
therefore,  and  bound  him  with  strips  of  blanket  to 
the  bed,  so  that  in  his  weakened  condition  there 
was  good  reason  to  think  that,  in  any  case,  he 
might  not  get  free  before  the  next  visit  of  the 
warder.      But  now  again   I  was  faced  with  new 


HOW  THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 53 

difficulties,  for  you  will  remember  that  I  had  re- 
lied upon  his  height  to  help  me  over  the  walls.  I 
could  have  sat  down  and  shed  tears  of  despair 
had  not  the  thought  of  my  mother  and  of  the 
Emperor  come  to  sustain  me.  "  Courage !  "  said  I. 
*'  If  it  were  anyone  but  Etienne  Gerard  he  would 
be  in  a  bad  fix  now  ;  that  is  a  young  man  who  is 
not  so  easily  caught." 

I  set  to  work  therefore  upon  Beaumont's  sheet 
as  well  as  my  own,  and  by  tearing  them  into  strips 
and  then  plaiting  them  together,  I  made  a  very 
excellent  rope.  This  I  tied  securely  to  the  centre 
of  my  iron  bar,  which  was  a  little  over  a  foot  in 
length.  Then  I  slipped  out  into  the  yard,  where 
the  rain  was  pouring  and  the  wind  screaming 
louder  than  ever.  I  kept  in  the  shadow  of  the 
prison  wall,  but  it  was  as  black  as  the  ace  of 
spades,  and  I  could  not  see  my  own  hand  in  front 
of  me.  Unless  I  walked  into  the  sentinel  I  felt 
that  I  had  nothing  to  fear  from  him.  When  I 
had  come  under  the  wall  I  threw  up  my  bar,  and 
to  my  joy  it  stuck  the  very  first  time  between  the 
spikes  at  the  top.  I  climbed  up  my  rope,  pulled 
it  after  me,  and  dropped  down  on  the  other  side. 
Then  I   scaled  the  second   wall,  and    was   sitting 


154       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

astride  among  the  spikes  upon  the  top,  when  I  saw 
something  twinkle  in  the  darkness  beneath  me.  It 
was  the  bayonet  of  the  sentinel  below,  and  so  close 
was  it  (the  second  wall  being  rather  lower  than 
the  first)  that  I  could  easily,  by  leaning  over,  have 
unscrewed  it  from  its  socket.  There  he  was,  hum- 
ming a  tune  to  himself,  and  cuddling  up  against 
the  wall  to  keep  himself  warm,  little  thinking  that 
a  desperate  man  within  a  few  feet  of  him  was  with- 
in an  ace  of  stabbing  him  to  the  heart  with  his  own 
weapon.  I  was  already  bracing  myself  for  the 
spring  when  the  fellow,  with  an  oath,  shouldered 
his  musket,  and  I  heard  his  steps  quelching 
through  the  mud  as  he  resumed  his  beat.  I 
slipped  down  my  rope,  and  leaving  it  hanging, 
I  ran  at  the  top  of  my  speed  across  the  moor. 

Heavens,  how  I  ran !  The  wind  buffeted  my 
face  and  buzzed  in  my  nostrils.  The  rain  pringled 
upon  my  skin  and  hissed  past  my  ears.  I  stum- 
bled into  holes.  I  tripped  over  bushes.  I  fell 
among  brambles.  I  was  torn  and  breathless  and 
bleeding.  My  tongue  was  like  leather,  my  feet 
like  lead,  and  my  heart  beating  like  a  kettle-drum. 
Still  I  ran,  and  I  ran,  and  I  ran. 

But    I    had    not    lost    my   head,   my    friends. 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 55 

Everything  was  done  with  a  purpose.  Our  fugi- 
tives always  made  for  the  coast.  I  was  deter- 
mined to  go  inland,  and  the  more  so  as  I  had 
told  Beaumont  the  opposite.  I  would  fly  to  the 
north,  and  they  would  seek  me  in  the  south. 
Perhaps  you  will  ask  me  how  I  could  tell  which 
was  which  on  such  a  night.  I  answer  that  it  was 
by  the  wind.  I  had  observed  in  the  prison  that 
it  came  from  the  north,  and  so,  as  long  as  I  kept 
my  face  to  it,  I  was  going  in  the  right  direc- 
tion. 

Well,  I  was  rushing  along  in  this  fashion  when, 
suddenly,  I  saw  two  yellow  lights  shining  out  of 
the  darkness  in  front  of  me.  I  paused  for  a  mo- 
ment, uncertain  what  I  should  do.  I  was  still  in 
my  hussar  uniform,  you  understand,  and  it  seemed 
to  me  that  the  very  first  thing  that  I  should  aim  at 
was  to  get  some  dress  which  should  not  betray 
me.  If  these  lights  came  from  a  cottage,  it  was 
probable  enough  that  I  might  find  what  I  wanted 
there.  I  approached  therefore,  feeling  very  sorry 
that  I  had  left  my  iron  bar  behind  ;  for  I  was 
determined  to  fight  to  the  death  before  I  should 
be  retaken. 

But  very  soon  I  found  that  there  was  no  cot- 


156       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

tage  there.  The  lights  were  two  lamps  hung 
upon  each  side  of  a  carriage,  and  by  their  glare  I 
saw  that  a  broad  road  lay  in  front  of  me.  Crouch- 
ing among  the  bushes,  I  observed  that  there  were 
two  horses  to  the  equipage,  that  a  small  post-boy 
was  standing  at  their  heads,  and  that  one  of  the 
wheels  was  lying  in  the  road  beside  him.  I  can 
see  them  now,  my  friends :  the  steaming  creatures, 
the  stunted  lad  with  his  hands  to  their  bits  and 
the  big,  black  coach,  all  shining  with  the  rain,  and 
balanced  upon  its  three  wheels.  As  I  looked,  the 
window  was  lowered,  and  a  pretty  little  face  under 
a  bonnet  peeped  out  from  it. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  the  lady  cried  to  the  post- 
boy, in  a  voice  of  despair.  "  Sir  Charles  is  cer- 
tainly lost,  and  I  shall  have  to  spend  the  night 
upon  the  moor." 

*'  Perhaps  I  can  be  of  some  assistance  to  ma- 
dame,"  said  I,  scrambling  out  from  among  the 
bushes  into  the  glare  of  the  lamps.  A  woman  in 
distress  is  a  sacred  thing  to  me,  and  this  one  was 
beautiful.  You  must  not  forget  that,  although  I 
was  a  colonel,  I  was  only  eight-and-twenty  years 
of  age. 

My    word,   how    she   screamed,   and    how   the 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 5/ 

post-boy  Stared  !  You  will  understand  that  after 
that  long  race  in  the  darkness,  with  my  shako 
broken  in,  my  face  smeared  with  dirt,  and  my 
uniform  all  stained  and  torn  with  brambles,  I  was 
not  entirely  the  sort  of  gentleman  whom  one 
would  choose  to  meet  in  the  middle  of  a  lonely 
moor.  Still,  after  the  first  surprise,  she  soon 
understood  that  I  was  her  very  humble  servant, 
and  I  could  even  read  in  her  pretty  eyes  that  my 
manner  and  bearing  had  not  failed  to  produce  an 
impression  upon  her. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  have  startled  you,  madame," 
said  I.  "  I  chanced  to  overhear  your  remark,  and 
I  could  not  refrain  from  offering  you  my  assist- 
ance." I  bowed  as  I  spoke.  You  know  my  bow, 
and  can  realize  what  its  effect  was  upon  the  lady. 

"  I  am  much  indebted  to  you,  sir,"  said  she. 
''We  have  had  a  terrible  journey  since  we  left 
Tavistock.  Finally,  one  of  our  wheels  came  off, 
and  here  we  are  helpless  in  the  middle  of  the 
moor.  My  husband.  Sir  Charles,  has  gone  on  to 
get  help,  and  I  much  fear  that  he  must  have  lost 
his  way." 

I  was  about  to  attempt  some  consolation,  when 
I  saw  beside  the  lady  a  black  travelling  coat,  faced 


158       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

with  astrakhan,  which  her  companion  must  have 
left  behind  him.  It  was  exactly  what  I  needed  to 
conceal  my  uniform.  It  is  true  that  I  felt  very 
much  like  a  highway  robber,  but  then,  what  would 
you  have  ?  Necessity  has  no  law,  and  I  was  in  an 
enemy's  country. 

"  I  presume,  madame,  that  this  is  your  hus- 
band's coat,"  I  remarked.     **  You  will,  I  am  sure, 

forgive   me,  if  I  am  compelled  to "     I  pulled 

it  through  the  window  as  I  spoke. 

I  could  not  bear  to  see  the  look  of  surprise 
and  fear  and  disgust  which  came  over  her  face. 

"  Oh,  I  have  been  mistaken  in  you  !  "  she  cried. 
"  You  came  to  rob  me,  then,  and  not  to  help  me. 
You  have  the  bearing  of  a  gentleman,  and  yet  you 
steal  my  husband's  coat." 

"  Madame,"  said  I,  "  I  beg  that  you  will  not 
condemn  me  until  you  know  everything.  It  is 
quite  necessary  that  I  should  take  this  coat,  but 
if  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  tell  me  who  it  is 
who  is  fortunate  enough  to  be  your  husband,  I 
shall  see  that  the  coat  is  sent  back  to  him." 

Her  face  softened  a  little,  though  she  still  tried 
to  look  severe.  "  My  husband,"  she  answered,  "  is 
Sir  Charles  Meredith,  and  he  is  travelling  to  Dart- 


HOW  THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       1 59 

moor  Prison,  upon  important  Government  busi- 
ness. I  only  ask  you,  sir,  to  go  upon  your  way, 
and  to  take  nothing  which  belongs  to  him.** 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  which  belongs  to  him 
that  I  covet,"  said  I. 

*'  And  you  have  taken  it  from  the  carriage," 
she  cried. 

"  No,"  I  answered.     "  It  still  remains  there." 

She  laughed  in  her  frank  English  way. 

"  If,  instead  of  paying  me  compliments,  you 
were  to  return  my  husband's  coat "  she  began. 

''  Madame,"  I  answered,  "  what  you  ask  is 
quite  impossible.  If  you  will  allow  me  to  come 
into  the  carriage,  I  will  explain  to  you  how  neces- 
sary this  coat  is  to  me." 

Heaven  knows  into  what  foolishness  I  might 
have  plunged  myself  had  we  not,  at  this  instant, 
heard  a  faint  hallo  in  the  distance,  which  was  an- 
swered by  a  shout  from  the  little  post-boy.  In 
the  rain  and  darkness  I  saw  a  lantern  some  dis- 
tance from  us,  but  approaching  rapidly. 

"  I  am  sorry,  madame,  that  I  am  forced  to 
leave  you,"  said  I.  "  You  can  assure  your  hus- 
band that  I  shall  take  every  care  of  his  coat." 
Hurried  as  I  was,  I  ventured  to  pause  a  moment 


l6o       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

to  salute  the  lady's  hand,  which  she  snatched 
through  the  window  with  an  admirable  pretence 
of  being  offended  at  my  presumption.  Then,  as 
the  lantern  was  quite  close  to  me,  and  the  post- 
boy seemed  inclined  to  interfere  with  my  flight,  I 
tucked  my  precious  overcoat  under  my  arm,  and 
dashed  off  into  the  darkness. 

And  now  I  set  myself  to  the  task  of  putting 
as  broad  a  stretch  of  moor  between  the  prison 
and  myself  as  the  remaining  hours  of  darkness 
would  allow.  Setting  my  face  to  the  wind  once 
more,  I  ran  until  I  fell  from  exhaustion.  Then, 
after  five  minutes  of  panting  among  the  heather, 
I  made  another  start,  until  again  my  knees  gave 
way  beneath  me.  I  was  young  and  hard,  with 
muscles  of  steel,  and  a  frame  which  had  been 
toughened  by  twelve  years  of  camp  and  field. 
Thus  I  was  able  to  keep  up  this  wild  flight  for 
another  three  hours,  during  which  I  still  guided 
myself,  you  understand,  by  keeping  the  wind  in 
my  face.  At  the  end  of  that  time  I  calculated 
that  I  had  put  nearly  twenty  miles  between  the 
prison  and  myself.  Day  was  about  to  break,  so  I 
crouched  down  among  the  heather  upon  the  top 
of  one  of  those  small  hills  which  abound  in  that 


HOW   THE    KING   HELD   THE    BRIGADIER.       l6l 

country,  with  the  intention  of  hiding  myself  until 
nightfall.  It  was  no  new  thing  for  me  to  sleep 
in  the  wind  and  the  rain,  so,  wrapping  myself 
up  in  my  thick  warm  cloak,  I  soon  sank  into  a 
doze. 

But  it  was  not  a  refreshing  slumber.  I  tossed 
and  tumbled  amid  a  series  of  vile  dreams,  in  which 
everything  seemed  to  go  wrong  with  me.  At  last, 
I  remember,  I  was  charging  an  unshaken  square  of 
Hungarian  Grenadiers,  with  a  single  squadron 
upon  spent  horses,  just  as  I  did  at  Elchingen.  I 
stood  in  my  stirrups  to  shout  "  Vive  I'Empereur !  " 
and  as  I  did  so,  there  came  the  answering  roar 
from  my  hussars,  "Vive  I'Empereur!"  I  sprang 
from  m}^  rough  bed,  with  the  words  still  ringing  in 
my  ears,  and  then,  as  I  rubbed  my  eyes,  and  won- 
dered if  I  were  mad,  the  same  cry  came  again,  five 
thousand  voices  in  one  long-drawn  yell.  I  looked 
out  from  my  screen  of  brambles,  and  saw  in  the 
clear  light  of  morning  the  very  last  thing  that  I 
should  have  either  expected  or  chosen. 

It  was  Dartmoor  Prison  !  There  it  stretched, 
grim  and  hideous,  within  a  furlong  of  me.  Had  I 
run  on  for  a  few  more  minutes  in  the  dark,  I 
should  have  butted   my  shako  against  the  wall.     I 


l62       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

was  SO  taken  aback  at  the  sight,  that  I  could 
scarcely  realize  what  had  happened.  Then  it  all 
became  clear  to  me,  and  I  struck  my  head  with  my 
hands  in  my  despair.  The  wind  had  veered  from 
north  to  south  during  the  night,  and  I,  keeping  my 
face  always  towards  it,  had  run  ten  miles  out,  and 
ten  miles  in,  winding  up  where  I  had  started. 
When  I  thought  of  my  hurry,  my  falls,  my 
mad  rushing  and  jumping,  all  ending  in  this,  it 
seemed  so  absurd,  that  my  grief  changed  suddenly 
to  amusement,  and  I  fell  among  the  brambles,  and 
laughed,  and  laughed,  until  my  sides  were  sore. 
Then  I  rolled  myself  up  in  my  cloak,  and  consid- 
ered seriously  what  I  should  do. 

One  lesson  which  1  have  learned  in  my  roaming 
life,  my  friends,  is  never  to  call  anything  a  misfor- 
tune until  you  have  seen  the  end  of  it.  Is  not 
every  hour  a  fresh  point  of  view  ?  In  this  case  I 
soon  perceived  that  accident  had  done  for  me  as 
much  as  the  most  profound  cunning.  My  guards 
naturally  commenced  their  search  from  the  place 
where  I  had  taken  Sir  Charles  Meredith's  coat, 
and  from  my  hiding-place  I  could  see  them  hurry- 
ing along  the  road  to  that  point.  Not  one  of  them 
ever  dreamed  that  I  could  have  doubled  back  from 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD  THE   BRIGADIER.       163 

there,  and  I  lay  quite  undisturbed  in  the  little 
bush-covered  cup  at  the  summit  of  my  knoll.  The 
prisoners  had,  of  course,  learned  of  my  escape,  and 
all  day  exultant  yells,  like  that  which  had  aroused 
me  in  the  morning,  resounded  over  the  moor,  bear- 
ing a  welcome  message  of  sympathy  and  companion- 
ship to  my  ears.  How  little  did  they  dream  that 
on  the  top  of  that  very  mound,  which  they  could 
see  from  their  windows,  was  lying  the  comrade 
whose  escape  they  were  celebrating.  As  for  me — 
1  could  look  down  upon  this  poor  herd  of  idle 
warriors,  as  they  paced  about  the  great  exercise 
yard,  or  gathered  in  little  groups,  gesticulating 
joyfully  over  my  success.  Once  I  heard  a  howl 
of  execration,  and  I  saw  Beaumont,  his  head  all 
covered  with  bandages,  being  led  across  the  yard 
by  two  of  the  warders.  I  cannot  tell  you  the 
pleasure  which  this  sight  gave  me,  for  it  proved 
that  I  had  not  killed  him,  and  also  that  the  others 
knew  the  true  story  of  what  had  passed.  They 
had  all  known  me  too  well  to  think  that  I  could 
have  abandoned  him. 

All  that  long  day  I  lay  behind  my  screen  of 
bushes,  listening  to  the  bells  which  struck  the 
hours  below. 


164      THE    EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

My  pockets  were  filled  with  bread  which  I  had 
saved  out  of  my  allowance,  and  on  searching  my 
borrowed  overcoat  I  came  upon  a  silver  flask,  full 
of  excellent  brandy  and  water,  so  that  I  was  able 
to  get  through  the  day  without  hardship.  The 
only  other  things  in  the  pockets  were  a  red  silk 
handkerchief,  a  tortoise-shell  snufl-box,  and  a  blue 
envelope,  with  a  red  seal,  addressed  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Dartmoor  Prison.  As  to  the  first  two,  I 
determined  to  send  them  back  when  I  should  re- 
turn the  coat  itself.  The  letter  caused  me  more 
perplexity,  for  the  Governor  had  always  shown 
me  every  courtesy,  and  it  offended  my  sense  of 
honour  that  I  should  interfere  with  his  corre- 
spondence. I  had  almost  made  up  my  mind  to 
leave  it  under  a  stone  upon  the  roadway  within 
musket-shot  of  the  gate.  This  would  guide  them 
in  their  search  for  me,  however,  and  so,  on  the 
whole,  I  saw  no  better  way  than  just  to  carry 
the  letter  with  me  in  the  hope  that  I  might  find 
some  means  of  sending  it  back  to  him.  Mean- 
while I  packed  it  safely  away  in  my  innermost 
pocket. 

There  was  a  warm  sun  to  dry  my  clothes,  and 
when    night  fell  I  was  ready  for  my  journey.      I 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       165 

promise  you  that  there  were  no  mistakes  this 
time.  I  took  the  stars  for  my  guides,  as  every 
hussar  should  be  taught  to  do,  and  I  put  eight 
good  leagues  between  myself  and  the  prison.  My 
plan  now  was  to  obtain  a  complete  suit  of  clothes 
from  the  first  person  whom  I  could  waylay,  and 
I  should  then  find  my  way  to  the  north  coast, 
where  there  were  many  smugglers  and  fishermen 
who  would  be  ready  to  earn  the  reward  which 
was  paid  by  the  Emperor  to  those  who  brought 
escaping  prisoners  across  the  Channel.  I  had 
taken  the  panache  from  my  shako  so  that  it  might 
escape  notice,  but  even  with  my  fine  overcoat  I 
feared  that  sooner  or  later  my  uniform  would  be- 
tray me.  My  first  care  must  be  to  provide  myself 
with  a  complete  disguise. 

When  day  broke,  I  saw  a  river  upon  my  right 
and  a  small  town  upon  my  left — the  blue  smoke 
reeking  up  above  the  moor.  I  should  have  liked 
well  to  have  entered  it,  because  it  would  have 
interested  me  to  see  something  of  the  customs  of 
the  English,  which  differ  very  much  from  those 
of  other  nations.  Much  as  I  should  have  wished, 
however,  to  have  seen  them  eat  their  raw  meat 
and  sell  their  wives,  it  would   have  been  danger- 


l66      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

ous  until  I  had  got  rid  of  my  uniform.  My  cap, 
my  moustache,  and  my  speech  would  all  help  to 
betray  me.  I  continued  to  travel  towards  the 
north  therefore,  looking  about  me  continually, 
but  never  catching  a  glimpse  of  my  pursuers. 

About  mid-day  I  came  to  where,  in  a  secluded 
valley,  there  stood  a  single  small  cottage  without 
any  other  building  in  sight.  It  was  a  neat  little 
house,  with  a  rustic  porch  and  a  small  garden  in 
front  of  it,  with  a  swarm  of  cocks  and  hens.  I 
lay  down  among  the  ferns  and  watched  it,  for  it 
seemed  to  be  exactly  the  kind  of  place  where  I 
might  obtain  what  I  wanted.  My  bread  was  fin- 
ished and  I  was  exceedingly  hungry  after  my  long 
journey ;  I  determined,  therefore,  to  make  a  short 
reconnaissance,  and  then  to  march  up  to  this  cot- 
tage summon  it  to  surrender,  and  help  myself  to  all 
that  I  needed.  It  could,  at  least,  provide  me  with 
a  chicken  and  with  an  omelette.  My  mouth  wa- 
tered at  the  thought. 

As  I  lay  there,  wondering  who  could  live  in 
this  lonely  place,  a  brisk  little  fellow  came  out 
through  the  porch,  accompanied  by  another  older 
man,  who  carried  two  large  clubs  in  his  hands. 
These  he  handed  to  his  young   companion,  who 


HOW  THE  KING  HELD  THE  BRIGADIER.       167 

swung  them  up  and  down,  and  round  and  round, 
with  extraordinary  swiftness.  The  other,  standing 
beside  him,  appeared  to  watch  him  with  great  atten- 
tion, and  occasionally  to  advise  him.  Finally  he 
took  a  rope,  and  began  skipping  like  a  girl,  the 
other  still  gravely  observing  him.  As  you  may 
think,  I  was  utterly  puzzled  as  to  what  these  peo- 
ple could  be,  and  could  only  surmise  that  the  one 
was  a  doctor,  and  the  other  a  patient  who  had 
submitted  himself  to  some  singular  method  of 
treatment. 

Well,  as  I  lay  watching  and  wondering,  the 
older  man  brought  out  a  greatcoat,  and  held  it 
while  the  other  put  it  on  and  buttoned  it  to  his 
chin.  The  day  was  a  warmish  one,  so  that  this 
proceeding  amazed  me  even  more  than  the  other. 
"  At  least,"  thought  I,  "  it  is  evident  that  his  ex- 
ercise is  over " ;  but,  far  from  this  being  so,  the 
man  began  to  run,  in  spite  of  his  heavy  coat,  and 
as  it  chanced,  he  came  right  over  the  moor  in 
my  direction.  His  companion  had  re-entered  the 
house,  so  that  this  arrangement  suited  me  admira- 
bly. I  would  take  the  small  man's  clothing,  and 
hurry  on  to  some  village  where  I  could  buy  pro- 
visions.     The    chickens  were    certainly  tempting, 


l68       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

but  still  there  were  at  least  two  men  in  the  house, 
so  perhaps  it  would  be  wiser  for  me,  since  I  had 
no  arms,  to  keep  away  from  it. 

I  lay  quietly  then  among  the  ferns.  Presently 
I  heard  the  steps  of  the  runner,  and  there  he  was 
quite  close  to  me,  with  his  huge  coat,  and  the 
perspiration  running  down  his  face.  He  seemed 
to  be  a  very  solid  man — but  small — so  small  that 
I  feared  that  his  clothes  might  be  of  little  use  to 
me.  When  I  jumped  out  upon  him  he  stopped 
running,  and  looked  at  me  in  the  greatest  aston- 
ishment. 

**  Blow  my  dickey,"  said  he,  "  give  it  a  name, 
guv'nor !  Is  it  a  circus,  or  what  ? "  That  was 
how  he  talked,  though  I  cannot  pretend  to  tell 
you  what  he  meant  by  it. 

"  You  will  excuse  me,  sir,"  said  I,  "  but  I  am 
under  the  necessity  of  asking  you  to  give  me  your 
clothes." 

"  Give  you  what  ?  "  he  cried. 

"  Your  clothes." 

"  Well,  if  this  don't  lick  cock-fighting  !  "  said 
he.  "  What  am  I  to  give  you  my  clothes 
for?" 

"  Because  I  need  them." 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       169 

"  And  suppose  I  won't  ?  " 

"  Be  jabers,"  said  I,  "  I  shall  have  no  choice  but 
to  take  them." 

He  stood  with  his  hands  in  the  pockets  of  his 
greatcoat,  and  a  most  amused  smile  upon  his 
square-jawed,  clean-shaven  face. 

"  You'll  take  them,  will  you  ? "  said  he. 
"  You're  a  very  leery  cove,  by  the  look  of  you, 
but  I  can  tell  you  that  you've  got  the  wrong  sow 
by  the  ear  this  time.  I  know  who  you  are. 
You're  a  runaway  Frenchy,  from  the  prison  yon* 
der,  as  anyone  could  tell  with  half  an  eye.  But 
you  don't  know  who  I  am,  else  you  wouldn't  try 
such  a  plant  as  that.  Why,  man,  I'm  the  Bristol 
Bustler,  nine  stone  champion,  and  them's  my  train, 
ing  quarters  down  yonder." 

He  stared  at  me  as  if  this  announcement  of  his 
would  have  crushed  me  to  the  earth,  but  I  smiled 
at  him  in  my  turn,  and  looked  him  up  and  down 
with  a  twirl  of  my  moustache. 

"  You  may  be  a  very  brave  man,  sir,"  said  I, 
"  but  when  I  tell  you  that  you  are  opposed  to 
Colonel  Etienne  Gerard,  of  the  Hussars  of  Con- 
flans,  you  will  see  the  necessity  of  giving  up  your 
clothes  without  further  parley." 


170      THE    EXPLOITS   OF    BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  Look  here,  mounseer,  drop  it !  "  he  cried ; 
**  this'll  end  by  your  getting  pepper." 

"  Your  clothes,  sir,  this  instant !  "  I  shouted, 
advancing  fiercely  upon  him. 

For  answer  he  threw  off  his  heavy  greatcoat, 
and  stood  in  a  singular  attitude,  with  one  arm  out, 
and  the  other  across  his  chest,  looking  at  me  with 
a  curious  smile.  For  myself,  I  knew  nothing  of 
the  methods  of  fighting  which  these  people  have, 
but  on  horse  or  on  foot,  with  arms  or  w^ithout 
them,  I  am  always  ready  to  take  my  own  part. 
You  understand  that  a  soldier  cannot  always 
choose  his  own  methods,  and  that  it  is  time  to 
howl  when  you  are  living  among  wolves.  I 
rushed  at  him,  therefore,  with  a  warlike  shout, 
and  kicked  him  with  both  my  feet.  At  the  same 
moment  my  heels  flew  into  the  air,  I  saw  as  many 
flashes  as  at  x^usterlitz,  and  the  back  of  my  head 
came  down  with  a  crash  upon  a  stone.  After  that 
I  can  remember  nothing  more. 

When  I  came  to  myself  I  was  lying  upon  a 
truckle-bed,  in  a  bare,  half-furnished  room.  My 
head  was  ringing  like  a  bell,  and  when  I  put  up 
my  hand,  there  was  a  lump  like  a  walnut  over  one 
of  my  eyes.     My  nose  was  full  of  a  pungent  smell, 


I 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       171 

and  I  soon  found  that  a  strip  of  paper  soaked  in 
vinegar  was  fastened  across  my  brow.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  room  this  terrible  little  man  was 
sitting  with  his  knee  bare,  and  his  elderly  com- 
panion was  rubbing  it  with  some  liniment.  The 
latter  seemed  to  be  in  the  worst  of  tempers,  and 
he  kept  up  a  continual  scolding,  which  the  other 
listened  to  with  a  gloomy  face. 

"  Never  heard  tell  of  such  a  thing  in  my  life," 
he  was  saying.  "  In  training  for  a  month  with  all 
the  weight  of  it  on  my  shoulders,  and  then  when 
I  get  you  as  fit  as  a  trout,  and  within  two  days  of 
fighting  the  likeliest  man  on  the  list,  you  let  your- 
self into  a  by-battle  with  a  foreigner." 

"  There,  there  !  Stow  your  gab  !  "  said  the 
other,  sulkily.  "  You're  a  very  good  trainer,  Jim, 
but  you'd  be  better  with  less  jaw." 

"  I  should  think  it  was  time  to  jaw,"  the  elderly 
man  answered.  "  If  this  knee  don't  get  well  be- 
fore Wednesday,  they'll  have  it  that  you  fought 
a  cross,  and  a  pretty  job  you'll  have  next  time  you 
look  for  a  backer." 

"  Fought  a  cross  !  "  growled  the  other.  "  I've 
won  nineteen  battles,  and  no  man  ever  so  much  as 
dared    to    say   the   word   '  cross '   in   my   hearin'. 


1/2       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

How  the  deuce  was  I  to  get  out  of  it  when  the 
cove  wanted  the  very  clothes  off  my  back  ?  " 

"  Tut,  man,  you  knew  that  the  beak  and  the 
guards  were  within  a  mile  of  you.  You  could 
have  set  them  on  to  him  as  well  then  as  now. 
You'd  have  got  your  clothes  back  again  all  right." 

"  Well,  strike  me  !  "  said  the  Bustler,  "  I  don't 
often  break  my  trainin',  but  when  it  comes  to 
givin'  up  my  clothes  to  a  Frenchy  who  couldn't 
hit  a  dint  in  a  patter  o*  butter,  why,  it's  more  than 
I  can  swaller." 

"  Pooh,  man,  what  are  the  clothes  worth  ? 
D'you  know  that  Lord  Rufton  alone  has  five 
thousand  pounds  on  you  ?  When  you  jump  the 
ropes  on  Wednesday,  you'll  carry  every  penny  of 
fifty  thousand  into  the  ring.  A  pretty  thing  to 
turn  up  with  a  swollen  knee  and  a  story  about  a 
Frenchman  !  " 

"  I  never  thought  he'd  ha'  kicked,"  said  the 
Bustler. 

"  I  suppose  you  expected  he'd  fight  Brough- 
ton's  rules,  and  strict  P.R.  ?  Why,  you  silly,  they 
don't  know  what  fighting  is  in  France." 

"  My  friends,"  said  I,  sitting  up  on  my  bed,  "  I 
do  not  understand  very  much  of  what  you  say,  but 


HOW  THE  KING  HELD  THE   BRIGADIER.       173 

when  you  speak  like  that  it  is  foolishness.  We 
know  so  much  about  fighting  in  France,  that  we 
have  paid  our  little  visit  to  nearly  every  capital  in 
Europe,  and  very  soon  we  are  coming  to  London. 
But  we  fight  like  soldiers,  you  understand,  and 
not  like  gamins  in  the  gutter.  You  strike  me  on 
the  head.  I  kick  you  on  the  knee.  It  is  child's 
play.  But  if  you  will  give  me  a  sword,  and  take 
another  one,  I  will  show  you  how  we  fight  over 
the  water." 

They  both  stared  at  me  in  their  solid,  English 
way. 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  you're  not  dead,  mounseer," 
said  the  elder  one  at  last.  "  There  wasn't  much 
sign  of  life  in  you  when  the  Bustler  and  me  car- 
ried you  down.  That  head  of  yours  ain't  thick 
enough  to  stop  the  crook  of  the  hardest  hitter  in 
Bristol." 

"  He's  a  game  cove,  too,  and  he  came  for  me 
like  a  bantam,"  said  the  other,  still  rubbing  his 
knee.  *'  I  got  my  old  left-right  in,  and  he  went 
over  as  if  he  had  been  pole-axed.  It  wasn't  my 
fault,  mounseer.  I  told  you  you'd  get  pepper  if 
you  went  on." 

"  Well,  it's  something  to  say  all  your  life,  that 


174      THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

you've  been  handled  by  the  finest  light-weight  in 
England,"  said  the  older  man,  looking  at  me  with 
an  expression  of  congratulation  upon  his  face. 
"  You've  had  him  at  his  best,  too — in  the  pink  of 
condition,  and  trained  by  Jim  Hunter." 

"  I  am  used  to  hard  knocks,"  said  I,  unbutton- 
ing my  tunic,  and  showing  my  two  musket 
wounds.  Then  I  bared  my  ankle  also,  and  showed 
the  place  in  my  eye  where  the  guerilla  had 
stabbed  me. 

"  He  can  take  his  gruel,"  said  the  Bustler. 

"  What  a  glutton  he'd  have  made  for  the  mid- 
dle-weights," remarked  the  trainer ;  "  with  six 
months'  coaching  he'd  astonish  the  fancy.  It's  a 
pity  he's  got  to  go  back  to  prison." 

I  did  not  like  that  last  remark  at  all.  I  but- 
toned up  my  coat  and  rose  from  the  bed. 

"  1  must  ask  you  to  let  me  continue  my 
journey,"  said  I. 

"  There's  no  help  for  it,  mounseer,"  the  trainer 
answered.  "  It's  a  hard  thing  to  send  such  a  man 
as  you  back  to  such  a  place,  but  business  is  busi- 
ness, and  there's  a  twenty  pound  reward.  They 
were  here  this  morning,  looking  for  you,  and  I 
expect  they'll  be  round  again." 


HOW  THE  KING  HELD  THE  BRIGADIER.       1 75 

His  words  turned  my  heart  to  lead. 

"  Surely,  you  would  not  betray  me,"  I  cried. 
"  I  will  send  you  twice  twenty  pounds  on  the  day 
that  I  set  foot  upon  France.  I  swear  it  upon  the 
honour  of  a  French  gentleman." 

But  I  only  got  head-shakes  for  a  reply.  I 
pleaded,  I  argued,  I  spoke  of  the  English  hos- 
pitality, and  the  fellowship  of  brave  men,  but  I 
might  as  well  have  been  addressing  the  two  great 
wooden  clubs  which  stood  balanced  upon  the  floor 
in  front  of  me.  There  was  no  sign  of  sympathy 
upon  their  bull-faces. 

"  Business  is  business,  mounseer,"  the  old 
trainer  repeated.  "  Besides,  how  am  I  to  put  the 
Bustler  into  the  ring  on  Wednesday  if  he's  jugged 
by  the  beak  for  aidin*  and  abettin*  a  prisoner  of 
war?  I've  got  to  look  after  the  Bustler,  and  I 
take  no  risks." 

This,  then,  was  the  end  of  all  my  struggles 
and  strivings.  I  was  to  be  led  back  again  like  a 
poor  silly  sheep  who  has  broken  through  the 
hurdles.  They  little  knew  me  who  could  fancy 
that  I  should  submit  to  such  a  fate.  I  had  heard 
enough  to  tell  me  where  the  weak  point  of  these 
two    men   was,   and    I   showed,   as   I    have   often 


176       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

showed  before,  that  Etienne  Gerard  is  never  so 
terrible  as  when  all  hope  seems  to  have  deserted 
him.  With  a  single  spring  I  seized  one  of  the 
clubs  and  swung  it  over  the  head  of  the  Bustler. 

"  Come  what  may,"  I  cried,  ''you  shall  be 
spoiled  for  Wednesday." 

The  fellow  growled  out  an  oath,  and  would 
have  sprung  at  me,  but  the  other  flung  his  arms 
round  him  and  pinned  him  to  the  chair. 

**  Not  if  I  know  it.  Bustler,"  he  screamed. 
"  None  of  your  games  while  I  am  by.  Get  away 
out  of  this,  Frenchy.  We  only  want  to  see  your 
back.     Run  away,  run  away,  or  he'll  get  loose ! " 

It  was  good  advice,  I  thought,  and  I  ran  to 
the  door,  but  as  I  came  out  into  the  open  air  my 
head  swam  round  and  I  had  to  lean  against  the 
porch  to  save  myself  from  falling.  Consider  all 
that  I  had  been  through,  the  anxiety  of  my  escape, 
the  long,  useless  liight  in  the  storm,  the  day  spent 
amid  wet  ferns,  with  only  bread  for  food,  the  sec- 
ond journey  by  night,  and  now  the  injuries  which 
I  had  received  in  attempting  to  deprive  the  little 
man  of  his  clothes.  Was  it  wonderful  that  even 
I  should  reach  the  limits  of  my  endurance  ?  I 
stood  there  in  my  heavy  coat   and  my  poor   bat- 


HOW   THE    KING   HELD   THE   BRIGADIER.       177 

tered  shako,  my  chin  upon  my  chest,  and  my  eye- 
lids over  my  eyes.  I  had  done  my  best,  and  I 
could  do  no  more.  It  was  the  sound  of  horses' 
hoofs  which  made  me  at  last  raise  my  head,  and 
there  was  the  grey-moustached  Governor  of  Dart- 
moor Prison  not  ten  paces  in  front  of  me,  with  six 
mounted  warders  behind  him. 

"  So,  Colonel,"  said  he,  with  a  bitter  smile, 
**we  have  found  you  once  more." 

When  a  brave  man  has  done  his  utmost,  and 
has  failed,  he  shows  his  breeding  by  the  manner 
in  which  he  accepts  his  defeat.  For  me,  I  took 
the  letter  which  I  had  in  my  pocket,  and  stepping 
forward,  I  handed  it  with  such  grace  of  manner 
as  I  could  summon  to  the  Governor. 

"  It  has  been  my  misfortune,  sir,  to  detain  one 
of  your  letters,"  said  I. 

He  looked  at  me  in  amazement,  and  beckoned 
to  the  warders  to  arrest  me.  Then  he  broke  the 
seal  of  the  letter.  I  saw  a  curious  expression 
come  over  his  face  as  he  read  it. 

"This  must  be  the  letter  which  Sir  Charles 
Meredith  lost,"  said  he. 

"  It  was  in  the  pocket  of  his  coat." 

"  You  have  carried  it  for  two  days  ? " 


178       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

''Since  the  night  before  last." 

"  And  never  looked  at  the  contents  ?  " 

I  showed  him  by  my  manner  that  he  had 
committed  an  indiscretion  in  asking  a  question 
which  one  gentleman  should  not  have  put  to  an- 
other. 

To  my  surprise  he  burst  out  into  a  roar  of 
laughter. 

"Colonel,"  said  he,  wiping  the  tears  from  his 
eyes,  "  you  have  really  given  both  yourself  and 
us  a  great  deal  of  unnecessary  trouble.  Allow  me 
to  read  the  letter  which  you  carried  with  you  in 
your  flight." 

And  this  was  what  I  heard: — 

"  On  receipt  of  this  you  are  directed  to  release 
Colonel  Etienne  Gerard,  of  the  3rd  Hussars,  who 
has  been  exchanged  against  Colonel  Mason,  of  the 
Horse  Artillery,  now  in  Verdun." 

And  as  he  read  it,  he  laughed  again,  and  the 
warders  laughed,  and  the  two  men  from  the  cot- 
tage laughed,  and  then,  as  I  heard  this  universal 
merriment,  and  thought  of  all  my  hopes  and  fears, 
and  my  struggles  and  dangers,  what  could  a  deb- 
onair soldier  do  but  lean  against  the  porch  once 
more,  and  laugh  as  heartily  as  any  of  them  ?     And 


HOW   THE   KING   HELD  THE   BRIGADIER.       1 79 

of  them  all  was  it  not  I  who  had  the  best  reason 
to  laugh,  since  in  front  of  me  I  could  see  my  dear 
France,  and  my  mother,  and  the  Emperor,  and 
my  horsemen  ;  while  behind  lay  the  gloomy  pris- 
on, and  the  heavy  hand  of  the  English  king  ? 


V. 


HOW    THE     BRIGADIER     TOOK    THE     FIELD 
AGAINST   THE   MARSHAL   MILLEFLEURS. 

Massena  was  a  thin,  sour  little  fellow,  and  after 
his  hunting  accident  he  had  only  one  eye,  but 
when  it  looked  out  from  under  his  cocked  hat 
there  was  not  much  upon  a  field  of  battle  which 
escaped  it.  He  could  stand  in  front  of  a  battalion, 
and  with  a  single  sweep  tell  you  if  a  buckle  or  a 
gaiter  button  were  out  of  place.  Neither  the  offi- 
cers nor  the  men  were  very  fond  of  him,  for  he 
was,  as  you  know,  a  miser,  and  soldiers  love  that 
their  leaders  should  be  free-handed.  At  the  same 
time,  when  it  came  to  work  they  had  a  very  high 
respect  for  him,  and  they  would  rather  fight  under  J 
him  than  under  anyone  except  the  Emperor  him- 
self, and  Lannes,  when  he  was  alive.  After  all,  if 
he  had  a  tight  grasp  upon  his  money-bags,  there 
was  a  day  also,  you  must  remember,  when  that 

180 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  TOOK  THE   FIELD.      l8l 

same  grip  was  upon  Zurich  and  Genoa.  He 
clutched  on  to  his  positions  as  he  did  to  his  strong 
box,  and  it  took  a  very  clever  man  to  loosen  him 
from  either. 

When  I  received  his  summons  I  went  gladly  to 
his  head-quarters,  for  I  was  always  a  great  favour- 
ite of  his,  and  there  was  no  officer  of  whom  he 
thought  more  highly.  That  was  the  best  of  serv- 
ing with  those  good  old  generals,  that  they  knew 
enough  to  be  able  to  pick  out  a  fine  soldier  when 
they  saw  one.  He  was  seated  alone  in  his  tent, 
with  his  chin  upon  his  hand,  and  his  brow  as 
wrinkled  as  if  he  had  been  asked  for  a  subscription. 
He  smiled,  however,  when  he  saw  me  before 
him. 

**  Good  day,  Colonel  Gerard." 

"  Good  day.  Marshal." 

"  How  is  the  Third  of  Hussars?  " 

"  Seven  hundred  incomparable  men  upon  seven 
hundred  excellent  horses." 

"  And  your  wounds — are  they  healed  ?  " 

"  My  wounds  never  heal.  Marshal,"  I  answered. 

"And  why?" 
i        "  Because  I  have  always  new  ones." 

"  General  Rapp  must  look  to  his  laurels,"  said 


1 82      THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

he,  his  face  all  breaking  into  wrinkles  as  he 
laughed.  *'  He  has  had  twenty-one  from  the  ene- 
my's bullets,  and  as  many  from  Larry's  knives  and 
probes.  Knowing  that  you  were  hurt.  Colonel,  I 
have  spared  you  of  late." 

"  Which  hurt  me  most  of  all." 

"  Tut,  tut !  Since  the  English  got  behind  these 
accursed  lines  of  Torres  Vedras,  there  has  been 
little  for  us  to  do.  You  did  not  miss  much  during 
your  imprisonment  at  Dartmoor.  But  now  we  are 
on  the  eve  of  action." 

**  We  advance  ?  " 

"  No,  retire." 

My  face  must  have  shown  my  dismay.  What, 
retire  before  this  sacred  dog  of  a  Wellington — he 
who  had  listened  unmoved  to  my  words,  and  had 
sent  me  to  his  land  of  fogs !  I  could  have  sobbed 
as  I  thought  of  it. 

"What  would  you  have?"  cried  Massena,  im- 
patiently. "  When  one  is  in  check,  it  is  necessary 
to  move  the  king." 

"  Forwards,"  I  suggested. 

He  shook  his  grizzled  head. 

"  The  lines  are  not  to  be  forced,"  said  he.  "  I 
have  already  lost  General  St.  Croix  and  more  men 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  TOOK  THE  FIELD.     1 83 

than  I  can  replace.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have 
been  here  at  Santarem  for  nearly  six  months. 
There  is  not  a  pound  of  flour  nor  a  jug  of  wine  on 
the  country-side.     We  must  retire." 

"  There  is  flour  and  wine  in  Lisbon,"  I  persisted. 

"  Tut,  you  speak  as  if  an  army  could  charge  in 
and  charge  out  again  like  your  regiment  of 
hussars.  If  Soult  were  here  with  thirty  thousand 
men — but  he  will  not  come.  I  sent  for  you,  how- 
ever. Colonel  Gerard,  to  say  that  I  have  a  very 
singular  and  important  expedition  which  I  intend  to 
place  under  your  direction." 

I  pricked  up  my  ears,  as  you  can  imagine.  The 
Marshal  unrolled  a  great  map  of  the  country  and 
spread  it  upon  the  table.  He  flattened  it  out  with 
his  little,  hairy  hands. 

"  This  is  Santarem,"  he  said,  pointing. 

I  nodded. 

"  And  here,  twenty-five  miles  to  the  east,  is  Al- 
meixal,  celebrated  for  its  vintages  and  for  its  enor- 
mous Abbey." 

Again  I  nodded ;  I  could  not  think  what  was 
coming. 

"  Have  you  heard  of  the  Marshal  Millefleurs  ?  " 
asked  Massena. 


1 84       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  I  have  served  with  all  the  Marshals,"  said  I, 
**  but  there  is  none  of  that  name." 

"  It  is  but  the  nickname  which  the  soldiers  have 
given  him,"  said  Massena.  ''  If  you  had  not  been 
away  from  us  for  some  months  it  would  not  be 
necessary  for  me  to  tell  you  about  him.  He  is  an 
Englishman,  and  a  man  of  good  breeding.  It  is  on 
account  of  his  manners  that  they  have  given  him 
his  title.  I  wish  you  to  go  to  this  polite  English- 
man at  Almeixal." 

"  Yes,  Marshal." 

"  And  to  hang  him  to  the  nearest  tree." 

"  Certainly,  Marshal." 

I  turned  briskly  upon  my  heels,  but  Massena  re- 
called me  before  I  could  reach  the  opening  of  his 
tent. 

"  One  moment.  Colonel,"  said  he ;  "  you  had 
best  learn  how  matters  stand  before  you  start. 
You  must  know,  then,  that  this  Marshal  Mille- 
fleurs,  whose  real  name  is  Alexis  Morgan,  is  a  man 
of  very  great  ingenuity  and  bravery.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  English  Guards,  but  having  been 
broken  for  cheating  at  cards,  he  left  the  army.  In 
some  manner  he  gathered  a  number  of  English  de- 
serters  round   him   and    took   to    the    mountains. 


lang  him  to  the  nearest  tree." 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      1 85 

French  stragglers  and  Portuguese  brigands  joined 
him,  and  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  five  hun- 
dred men.  With  these  he  took  possession  of  the 
Abbey  of  Almeixal,  sent  the  monks  about  their 
business,  fortified  the  place,  and  gathered  in  the 
plunder  of  all  the  country  round." 

"  For  which  it  is  high  time  he  was  hanged," 
said  I,  making  once  more  for  the  door. 

"  One  instant ! "  cried  the  Marshal,  smiling  at 
my  impatience.  "  The  worst  remains  behind. 
Only  last  week  the  Dowager  Countess  of  La 
Ronda,  the  richest  woman  in  Spain,  was  taken  by 
these  ruffians  in  the  passes  as  she  was  journeying 
from  King  Joseph's  Court  to  visit  her  grandson. 
She  is  now  a  prisoner  in  the  Abbey,  and  is  only 
protected  by  her " 

"  Grandmotherhood,"  I  suggested. 

"  Her  power  of  paying  a  ransom,"  said  Mas- 
sena.  "  You  have  three  missions,  then  :  To  rescue 
this  unfortunate  lady ;  to  punish  this  villain ;  and, 
if  possible,  to  break  up  this  nest  of  brigands.  It 
will  be  a  proof  of  the  confidence  which  I  have  in 
you  when  I  say  that  I  can  only  spare  you  half  a 
squadron  with  which  to  accomplish  all  this." 

My  word,  I  could  hardly  believe  my  ears !     I 


1 86       THE  EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

thought  that  I  should  have  had  my  regiment  at  the 
least. 

"  I  would  give  you  more,  said  he,  "  but  I  com- 
mence my  retreat  to-day,  and  Wellington  is  so 
strong  in  horse  that  every  trooper  becomes  of  im- 
portance. I  cannot  spare  you  another  man.  You 
will  see  what  you  can  do,  and  you  will  report 
yourself  to  me  at  Abrantes  not  later  than  to-mor- 
row night." 

It  was  very  complimentary  that  he  should  rate 
my  powers  so  high,  but  it  was  also  a  little  em- 
barrassing. I  was  to  rescue  an  old  lady,  to  hang 
an  Englishman,  and  to  break  up  a  band  of  five 
hundred  assassins — all  with  fifty  men.  But  after 
all,  the  fifty  men  were  Hussars  of  Conflans,  and 
they  had  an  Etienne  Gerard  to  lead  them.  As  I 
came  out  into  the  warm  Portuguese  sunshine  my 
confidence  had  returned  to  me,  and  I  had  already 
begun  to  wonder  whether  the  medal  which  I  had 
so  often  deserved  might  not  be  waiting  for  me  at 
Almeixal. 

You  may  be  sure  that  I  did  not  take  my 
fifty  men  at  haphazard.  They  were  all  old  sol- 
diers of  the  German  wars,  some  of  them  with 
three  stripes,  and  most  of  them  with  two.     Oudet 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      1 87 

and  Papilette,  two  of  the  best  sub-officers  in  the 
regiment,  were  at  their  head.  When  I  had  them 
formed  up  in  fours,  all  in  silver  grey  and  upon 
chestnut  horses,  with  their  leopard  skin  shabracks 
and  their  little  red  panaches,  my  heart  beat  high 
at  the  sight.  I  could  not  look  at  their  weather- 
stained  faces,  with  the  great  moustaches  which 
bristled  over  their  chin-straps,  without  feeling  a 
glow  of  confidence,  and,  between  ourselves,  I  have 
no  doubt  that  that  was  exactly  how  they  felt  when 
they  saw  their  young  Colonel  on  his  great  black 
war-horse  riding  at  their  head. 

Well,  when  we  got  free  of  the  camp  and  over 
the  Tagus,  I  threw  out  my  advance  and  my 
flankers,  keeping  my  own  place  at  the  head  of  the 
main  body.  Looking  back  from  the  hills  above 
Santarem,  we  could  see  the  dark  lines  of  Mas- 
sena's  army,  with  the  flash  and  twinkle  of  the 
sabres  and  bayonets  as  he  moved  his  regiments 
into  position  for  their  retreat.  To  the  south  lay 
the  scattered  red  patches  of  the  English  outposts, 
and  behind  the  grey  smoke-cloud  which  rose  from 
Wellington's  camp — thick,  oily  smoke,  which 
seemed  to  our  poor  starving  fellows  to  bear  with 

it  the  rich  smell  of  seething  camp-kettles.     Away 
13 


1 88       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

to  the  west  lay  a  curve  of  blue  sea  flecked  with 
the  white  sails  of  the  English  ships. 

You  will  understand  that  as  we  were  riding  to 
the  east,  our  road  led  away  from  both  armies. 
Our  own  marauders,  however,  and  the  scouting 
parties  of  the  English,  covered  the  country,  and 
it  was  necessary  with  my  small  troop  that  I 
should  take  every  precaution.  During  the  whole 
day  we  rode  over  desolate  hill-sides,  the  lower 
portions  covered  by  the  budding  vines,  but  the 
upper  turning  from  green  to  grey,  and  jagged 
along  the  skyline  like  the  back  of  a  starved  horse. 
Mountain  streams  crossed  our  path  running  west 
to  the  Tagus,  and  once  we  came  to  a  deep  strong 
river,  which  might  have  checked  us  had  I  not 
found  the  ford  by  observing  where  houses  had 
been  built  opposite  each  other  upon  either  bank. 
Between  them,  as  every  scout  should  know,  you 
will  find  your  ford.  There  was  none  to  give  us 
information,  for  neither  man  nor  beast,  nor  any 
living  thing  except  great  clouds  of  crows,  was  to 
be  seen  during  our  journey. 

The  sun  was  beginning  to  sink  when  we  came 
to  a  valley  clear  in  the  centre,  but  shrouded  by 
huge  oak  trees  upon  cither  side.      We  could  not 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.       1 89 

be  more  than  a  few  miles  from  Almeixal,  so  it 
seemed  to  me  to  be  best  to  keep  among  the 
groves,  for  the  spring  had  been  an  early  one  and 
the  leaves  were  already  thick  enough  to  conceal 
us.  We  were  riding  then  in  open  order  among 
the  great  trunks,  when  one  of  my  flankers  came 
galloping  up. 

*'  There  are  English  across  the  valley.  Colonel," 
he  cried,  as  he  saluted. 

"  Cavalry  or  infantry  ?  ** 

"  Dragoons,  Colonel,"  said  he ;  "I  saw  the 
gleam  of  their  helmets,  and  heard  the  neigh  of  a 
horse." 

Halting  my  men,  I  hastened  to  the  edge  of  the 
wood.  There  could  be  no  doubt  about  it.  A 
party  of  English  cavalry  was  travelling  in  a  line 
with  us,  and  in  the  same  direction.  I  caught  a 
glimpse  of  their  red  coats  and  of  their  flashing 
arms  glowing  and  twinkling  among  the  tree- 
trunks.  Once,  as  they  passed  through  a  small 
clearing,  I  could  see  their  whole  force,  and  I 
judged  that  they  were  of  about  the  same  strength 
as  my  own — a  half  squadron  at  the  most. 

You  who  have  heard  some  of  my  little  adven- 
tures will   give  me  credit   for  being  quick  in  my 


190       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

decisions,  and  prompt  in  carrying  them  out.  But 
here  I  must  confess  that  I  was  in  two  minds.  On 
the  one  hand  there  was  the  chance  of  a  fine 
cavalry  skirmish  with  the  English.  On  the  other 
hand,  there  was  my  mission  at  the  Abbey  of  Al- 
meixal,  which  seemed  already  to  be  so  much 
above  my  power.  If  I  were  to  lose  any  of  my 
men,  it  was  certain  that  I  should  be  unable  to 
carry  out  my  orders.  I  was  sitting  my  horse, 
with  my  chin  in  my  gauntlet,  looking  across  at  the 
rippling  gleams  of  light  from  the  further  wood, 
when  suddenly  one  of  these  red-coated  English- 
men rode  out  from  the  cover,  pointing  at  me  and 
breaking  into  a  shrill  whoop  and  halloa  as  if  I  had 
been  a  fox.  Three  others  joined  him,  and  one  who 
was  a  bugler  sounded  a  call  which  brought  the 
whole  of  them  into  the  open.  They  were,  as  I 
had  thought,  a  half  squadron,  and  they  formed  a 
double  line  with  a  front  of  twenty-five,  their  officer 
— the  one  who  had  whooped  at  me — at  their  head. 
For  my  own  part,  I  had  instantly  brought  my 
own  troopers  into  the  same  formation,  so  that 
there  we  were,  hussars  and  dragoons,  with  only 
two  hundred  yards  of  grassy  sward  between  us. 
They  carried    themselves   well,   those    red-coated 


HOW   THE  BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.     I9I 

troopers,  with  their  silver  helmets,  their  high 
white  plumes,  and  their  long,  gleaming  swords; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  I  am  sure  that  they  would 
acknowledge  that  they  had  never  looked  upon 
finer  light  horsemen  than  the  fifty  hussars  of  Con- 
flans,  who  were  facing  them.  They  were  heavier, 
it  is  true,  and  they  may  have  seemed  the  smarter, 
for  Wellington  used  to  make  them  burnish  their 
metal  work,  which  was  not  usual  among  us.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  well  known  that  the  English 
tunics  were  too  tight  for  the  sword-arm,  which 
gave  our  men  an  advantage.  As  to  bravery,  fool- 
ish, inexperienced  people  of  every  nation  always 
think  that  their  own  soldiers  are  braver  than  any 
others.  There  is  no  nation  in  the  world  which 
does  not  entertain  this  idea.  But  when  one  has 
seen  as  much  as  I  have  done,  one  understands 
that  there  is  no  very  marked  difference,  and  that 
although  nations  differ  very  much  in  discipline, 
they  are  all  equally  brave — except  that  the  French 
have  rather  more  courage  than  the  rest. 

Well,  the  cork  was  drawn  and  the  glasses 
ready,  when  suddenly  the  English  officer  raised 
his  sword  to  me  as  if  in  a  challenge,  and  can- 
tered his   horse  across  the  grassland.    My  word, 


192       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

there  is  no  finer  sight  upon  earth  than  that  of  a 
gallant  man  upon  a  gallant  steed  !  I  could  have 
halted  there  just  to  watch  him  as  he  came  with 
such  careless  grace,  his  sabre  down  by  his  horse's 
shoulder,  his  head  thrown  back,  his  white  plume 
tossing — youth  and  strength  and  courage,  with  the 
violet  evening  sky  above  and  the  oak  trees  be- 
hind. But  it  was  not  for  me  to  stand  and  stare. 
Etienne  Gerard  may  have  his  faults,  but,  my  faith, 
he  was  never  accused  of  being  backward  in  taking 
his  own  part.  The  old  horse,  Rataplan,  knew  me 
so  well  that  he  had  started  off  before  ever  I  gave 
the  first  shake  to  the  bridle. 

There  are  two  things  in  this  world  that  I  am 
very  slow  to  forget,  the  face  of  a  pretty  woman, 
and  the  legs  of  a  fine  horse.  Well,  as  we  drew 
together,  I  kept  on  saying,  "  Where  have  I  seen 
those  great  roan  shoulders?  Where  have  I  seen 
that  dainty  fetlock  ?  "  Then  suddenly  I  remem- 
bered, and  as  I  looked  up  at  the  reckless  eyes  and 
the  challenging  smile,  whom  should  I  recognise 
but  the  man  who  had  saved  me  from  the  brigands 
and  played  me  for  my  freedom — he  whose  correct 
title  was  Milor  the  Hon.  Sir  Russell  Bart. ! 

"  Bart!  "  I  shouted. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      I93 

He  had  his  arm  raised  for  a  cut,  and  three 
parts  of  his  body  open  to  my  point,  for  he  did 
not  know  very  much  about  the  use  of  the  sword. 
As  I  brought  my  hilt  to  the  salute  he  dropped 
his  hand  and  stared  at  me. 

"  Halloa  !  "  said  he.  "  It's  Gerard  !  "  You 
would  have  thought  by  his  manner  that  I  had 
met  him  by  appointment.  For  my  own  part  I 
would  have  embraced  him  had  he  but  come  an 
inch  of  the  way  to  meet  me. 

"  I  thought  we  were  in  for  some  sport,"  said 
he.     "  I  never  dreamed  that  it  was  you." 

I  found  this  tone  of  disappointment  somewhat 
irritating.  Instead  of  being  glad  at  having  met  a 
friend,  he  was  sorry  at  having  missed  an  enemy. 

"  I  should  have  been  happy  to  join  in  your 
sport,  my  dear  Bart."  said  I.  "  But  I  really 
cannot  turn  my  sword  upon  a  man  who  saved 
my  life." 

"  Tut,  never  mind  about  that." 

**  No,  it  is  impossible,  I  should  never  forgive 
myself." 

"  You  make  too  much  of  a  trifle." 

"  My  mother's  one  desire  is  to  embrace  you. 
If  ever  you  should  be  in  Gascony " 


194       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

''  Lord  Wellington  is  coming  there  with  60,000 
men." 

"  Then  one  of  them  will  have  a  chance  of  sur- 
viving," said  I,  laughing.  "  In  the  meantime,  put 
your  sword  in  your  sheath ! " 

Our  horses  were  standing  head  to  tail,  and  the 
Bart,  put  out  his  hand  and  patted  me  on  the 
thigh. 

"You're  a  good  chap,  Gerard,"  said  he.  "I 
only  wish  you  had  been  born  on  the  right  side  of 
the  Channel." 

"  I  was,"  said  I. 

"Poor  devil!"  he  cried,  with  such  an  earnest- 
ness of  pity  that  he  set  me  laughing  again.  "  But 
look  here,  Gerard,"  he  continued,  "  this  is  all  very 
well,  but  it  is  not  business,  you  know.  I  don't 
know  what  Massena  would  say  to  it,  but  our  Chief 
would  jump  out  of  his  riding-boots  if  he  saw  us. 
We  weren't  sent  out  here  for  a  picnic— either 
of  us." 

"What  would  you  have?" 

"  Well,  we  had  a  little  argument  about  our 
hussars  and  dragoons,  if  you  remember.  I've  got 
fifty  of  the  Sixteenth  all  chewing  their  carbine 
bullets  behind  me.    You've  got  as  many  fine-look- 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      I95 

ing  boys  over  yonder,  who  seem  to  be  fidgeting 
in  their  saddles.  If  you  and  I  took  the  right 
flanks  we  should  not  spoil  each  other's  beauty — 
though  a  little  blood-letting  is  a  friendly  thing  in 
this  climate." 

There  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  good  deal  of 
sense  in  what  he  said.  For  the  moment  Mr. 
Alexis  Morgan  and  the  Countess  of  La  Ronda  and 
the  Abbey  of  Almeixal  went  right  out  of  my 
head,  and  I  could  only  think  of  the  fine  level 
turf  and  of  the  beautiful  skirmish  which  we  might 
have. 

"Very  good,  Bart,"  said  I.  *' We  have  seen 
the  front  of  your  dragoons.  We  shall  now  have 
a  look  at  their  backs." 

"Any  betting?"  he  asked. 

"  The  stake,"  said  I,  "  is  nothing  less  than  the 
honour  of  the  Hussars  of  Conflans." 

"  Well,  come  on !  "  he  answered.  "  If  we  break 
you,  well  and  good— if  you  break  us,  it  will  be 
all  the  better  for  Marshal  Millefleurs." 

When  he  said  that  I  could  only  stare  at  him 
in  astonishment. 

"Why  for  Marshal  Millefleurs ? "  I  asked. 

"  It  is  the  name  of  a  rascal  who  lives  out  this 


196       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

way.  My  dragoons  have  been  sent  by  Lord  Wel- 
lington to  see  him  safely  hanged." 

"Name  of  a  name!"  I  cried.  "Why,  my  hus- 
sars have  been  sent  by  Massena  for  that  very  ob- 
ject." 

We  burst  out  laughing  at  that,  and  sheathed 
our  swords.  There  was  a  whirr  of  steel  from 
behind  us  as  our  troopers  followed  our  example. 

"We  are  allies,"  he  cried. 

"  For  a  day." 

"  We  must  join  forces." 

"  There  is  no  doubt  of  it." 

And  so,  instead  of  fighting,  we  wheeled  our 
half  squadrons  round  and  moved  in  two  little  col- 
ums  down  the  valley,  the  shakos  and  the  helmets 
turned  inwards,  and  the  men  looking  their  neigh- 
bours up  and  down,  like  old  fighting  dogs  with 
tattered  ears  who  have  learned  to  respect  each 
other's  teeth.  The  most  were  on  the  broad  grin, 
but  there  were  some  on  either  side  who  looked 
black  and  challenging,  especially  the  English  ser- 
geant and  my  own  sub-officer  Papilette.  They 
were  men  of  habit,  you  see,  who  could  not 
change  all  their  ways  of  thinking  in  a  moment. 
Besides,    Papilette    had    lost    his    only     brother 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      IQ/ 

at  Busaco.  As  for  the  Bart,  and  me,  we  rode  to- 
gether at  the  head  and  chatted  about  all  that  had 
occurred  to  us  since  that  famous  game  of  ecarte 
of  which  I  have  told  you.  For  my  own  part,  I 
spoke  to  him  of  my  adventures  in  England.  They 
are  a  very  singular  people,  these  English.  Al- 
though he  knew  that  I  had  been  engaged  in  twelve 
campaigns,  yet  I  am  sure  that  the  Bart,  thought 
more  highly  of  me  because  I  had  had  an  affair 
with  the  Bristol  Bustler.  He  told  rae,  too,  that 
the  Colonel  who  presided  over  his  court-martial 
for  playing  cards  with  a  prisoner,  acquitted  him 
of  neglect  of  duty,  but  nearly  broke  him  because 
he  thought  that  he  had  not  cleared  his  trumps 
before  leading  his  suit.  Yes,  indeed,  they  are  a 
singular  people. 

At  the  end  of  the  valley  the  road  curved  over 
some  rising  ground  before  winding  down  into 
another  wider  valley  beyond.  We  called  a  halt 
when  we  came  to  the  top;  for  there,  right  in 
front  of  us,  at  the  distance  of  about  three  miles, 
was  a  scattered,  grey  town,  with  a  single  enor- 
mous building  upon  the  flank  of  the  mountain 
which  overlooked  it.  We  could  not  doubt  that 
we  were  at  last  in  sight  of  the   Abbey  that  held 


198       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

the  gang  of  rascals  whom  we  had  come  to  dis- 
perse. It  was  only  now,  I  think,  that  we  fully 
understood  what  a  task  lay  in  front  of  us,  for  the 
place  was  a  veritable  fortress,  and  it  was  evident 
that  cavalry  should  never  have  been  sent  out 
upon  such  an  errand. 

"  That's  got  nothing  to  do  with  us,"  said  the 
Bart. ;  "  Wellington  and  Massena  can  settle  that 
between  them." 

"  Courage  ! "  I  answered.  "  Pire  took  Leipzig 
with  fifty  hussars." 

"  Had  they  been  dragoons,"  said  the  Bart., 
laughing,  "  he  would  have  had  Berlin.  But  you 
are  senior  officer :  give  us  a  lead,  and  we'll  see  who 
will  be  the  first  to  flinch." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  whatever  we  do  must  be  done 
at  once,  for  my  orders  are  to  be  on  my  way  to 
Abrantes  by  to-morrow  night.  But  we  must  have 
some  information  first,  and  here  is  someone  who 
should  be  able  to  give  it  to  us." 

There  was  a  square,  whitewashed  house  stand- 
ing by  the  roadside,  which  appeared,  from  the 
bush  hanging  over  the  door,  to  be  one  of  those 
wayside  tabernas  which  are  provided  for  the 
muleteers.    A  lantern  was  hung  in  the  porch,  and 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      I99 

by  its  light  we  saw  two  men,  the  one  in  the  brown 
habit  of  a  Capuchin  monk,  and  the  other  girt  with 
an  apron,  which  showed  him  to  be  the  landlord. 
They  were  conversing  together  so  earnestly  that 
we  were  upon  them  before  they  were  aware  of 
us.  The  innkeeper  turned  to  fly,  but  one  of  the 
Englishmen  seized  him  by  the  hair,  and  held  him 
tight. 

"  For  mercy's  sake,  spare  me,"  he  yelled.  "  My 
house  has  been  gutted  by  the  French  and  harried 
by  the  English,  and  my  feet  have  been  burned 
by  the  brigands.  I  swear  by  the  Virgin  that  I 
have  neither  money  nor  food  in  my  inn,  and  the 
good  Father  Abbot,  who  is  starving  upon  my 
doorstep,  will  be  witness  to  it." 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  said  the  Capuchin,  in  excellent 
French,  "  what  this  worthy  man  says  is  very  true. 
He  is  one  of  the  many  victims  to  these  cruel  wars, 
although  his  loss  is  but  a  feather-weight  compared 
to  mine.  Let  him  go,"  he  added,  in  English,  to 
the  trooper,  "  he  is  too  weak  to  fly,  even  if  he  de- 
sired to." 

In  the  light  of  the  lantern  I  saw  that  this 
monk  was  a  magnificent  man,  dark  and  bearded, 
with   the   eyes   of   a   hawk,  and    so   tall    that    his 


200      THE   EXPLOITS   OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

cowl  came  up  to  Rataplan's  ears.  He  wore  the 
look  of  one  who  had  been  through  much  suffering, 
but  he  carried  himself  like  a  king,  and  we  could 
form  some  opinion  of  his  learning  when  we  each 
heard  him  talk  our  own  language  as  fluently  as  if 
he  were  born  to  it. 

**  You  have  nothing  to  fear,"  said  I,  to  the 
trembling  innkeeper.  "  As  to  you,  father,  you  are, 
if  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  very  man  who  can  give 
us  the  information  which  we  require." 

"  All  that  I  have  is  at  your  service,  my  son. 
But,"  he  added,  with  a  wan  smile,  "  my  Lenten 
fare  is  always  somewhat  meagre,  and  this  year 
it  has  been  such  that  I  must  ask  you  for  a  crust 
of  bread  if  I  am  to  have  the  strength  to  answer 
your  questions." 

We  bore  two  days*  rations  in  our  haversacks, 
so  that  he  soon  had  the  little  he  asked  for.  It 
was  dreadful  to  see  the  wolfish  way  in  which  he 
seized  the  piece  of  dried  goat's  flesh  which  I  was 
able  to  offer  him. 

*'  Time  presses,  and  we  must  come  to  the 
point,"  said  I.  "  We  want  your  advice  as  to  the 
weak  points  of  yonder  Abbey,  and  concerning  the 
habits  of  the  rascals  who  infest  it." 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.     201 

He  cried  out  something  which  I  took  to  be 
Latin,  with  his  hands  clasped  and  his  eyes  up- 
turned. **  The  prayer  of  the  just  availeth  much," 
said  he  '*  and  yet  I  had  not  dared  to  hope  that 
mine  would  have  been  so  speedily  answered.  In 
me  you  see  the  unfortunate  Abbot  of  Almeixal, 
who  has  been  cast  out  by  this  rabble  of  three 
armies  with  their  heretical  leader.  Oh  !  to  think 
of  what  I  have  lost !  "  his  voice  broke,  and  the 
tears  hung  upon  his  lashes. 

"  Cheer  up,  sir,"  said  the  Bart.  *'  I'll  lay  nine 
to  four  that  we  have  you  back  again  by  to-morrow 
night." 

"  It  is  not  of  my  own  welfare  that  I  think," 
said  he,  ''  nor  even  of  that  of  my  poor,  scattered 
flock.  But  it  is  of  the  holy  relics  which  are  left 
in  the  sacrilegious  hands  of  these  robbers." 

"  It's  even  betting  whether  they  would  ever 
bother  their  heads  about  them,"  said  the  Bart. 
"  But  show  us  the  way  inside  the  gates,  and  we'll 
soon  clear  the  place  out  for  you." 

In  a  few  short  words  the  good  Abbot  gave  us 
the  very  points  that  we  wished  to  know.  But  all 
that  he  said  only  made  our  task  more  formidable. 
The  walls  of  the  Abbey  were  forty  feet  high.     The 


202       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

lower  windows  were  barricaded,  and  the  whole 
building  loopholed  for  musketry  fire.  The  gang 
preserved  military  discipline,  and  their  sentries 
were  too  numerous  for  us  to  hope  to  take  them 
by  surprise.  It  was  more  than  ever  evident  that 
a  battalion  of  grenadiers  and  a  couple  of  breach- 
ing pieces  were  what  was  needed.  I  raised  my 
eyebrows,  and  the  Bart,  began  to  whistle. 

"  We  must  have  a  shot  at  it,  come  what  may," 
said  he. 

The  men  had  already  dismounted,  and,  having 
watered  their  horses,  were  eating  their  suppers. 
For  my  own  part  I  went  into  the  sitting-room  of 
the  inn  with  the  Abbot  and  the  Bart.,  that  we 
might  talk  about  our  plans. 

I  had  a  little  cognac  in  my  sauve  vie,  and  I 
divided  it  among  us— just  enough  to  wet  our 
moustaches. 

**  It  is  unlikely,"  said  I,  "  that  those  rascals 
know  anything  about  our  coming.  I  have  seen 
no  signs  of  scouts  along  the  road.  My  own  plan 
is  that  we  should  conceal  ourselves  in  some  neigh- 
bouring wood,  and  then,  when  they  open  their 
gates,  charge  down  upon  them  and  take  them  by 
surprise." 


I 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      203 

The  Bart,  was  of  opinion  that  this  was  the 
best  that  we  could  do,  but,  when  we  came  to 
talk  it  over,  the  Abbot  made  us  see  that  there 
were  difficulties  in  the  way. 

"  Save  on  the  side  of  the  town  there  is  no 
place  within  a  mile  of  the  Abbey  where  you  could 
shelter  man  or  horse,"  said  he.  **  As  to  the  towns- 
folk, they  are  not  to  be  trusted.  I  fear,  my  son, 
that  your  excellent  plan  would  have  little  chance 
of  success  in  the  face  of  the  vigilant  guard  which 
these  men  keep." 

"  I  see  no  other  way,"  answered  I.  "  Hussars 
of  Conflans  are  not  so  plentiful  that  I  can  afford 
to  run  half  a  squadron  of  them  against  a  forty 
foot  wall  with  five  hundred  infantry  behind  it." 

"  I  am  a  man  of  peace,"  said  the  Abbot,  "  and 
yet  I  may,  perhaps,  give  a  word  of  counsel.  I 
know  these  villains  and  their  ways.  Who  should 
do  so  better,  seeing  that  I  have  stayed  for  a 
month  in  this  lonely  spot,  looking  down  in  weari- 
ness of  heart  at  the  Abbey  which  was  my  own? 
I  will  tell  you  now  what  I  should  myself  do  if  I 
were  in  your  place." 

"  Pray  tell  us,  father,"  we  cried,  both  together. 

"  You  must  know  that  bodies  of  deserters,  both 
14 


204       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

French  and  English,  are  continually  coming  in  to 
them,  carrying  their  weapons  with  them.  Now, 
what  is  there  to  prevent  you  and  your  men  from 
pretending  to  be  such  a  body,  and  so  making 
your  way  into  the  Abbey  ?  " 

I  was  amazed  at  the  simplicity  of  the  thing, 
and  I  embraced  the  good  Abbot.  The  Bart.,  how- 
ever, had  some  objections  to  offer. 

"  That  is  all  very  well,"  said  he,  *'  but  if  these 
fellows  are  as  sharp  as  you  say,  it  is  not  very  likely 
that  they  are  going  to  let  a  hundred  armed 
strangers  into  their  crib.  From  all  I  have  heard 
of  Mr.  Morgan,  or  Marshal  Millefieurs,  or  what- 
ever the  rascal's  name  is,  I  give  him  credit  for 
more  sense  than  that." 

"  Well,  then,"  I  cried,  "  let  us  send  fifty  in,  and 
let  them  at  daybreak  throw  open  the  gates  to  the 
other  fifty,  who  will  be  waiting  outside." 

We  discussed  the  question  at  great  length  and 
with  much  foresight  and  discretion.  If  it  had 
been  Massena  and  Wellington  instead  of  two 
young  officers  of  light  cavalry,  we  could  not  have 
weighed  it  all  with  more  judgment.  At  last  we 
agreed,  the  Bart,  and  I,  that  one  of  us  should  in- 
deed go  with  fifty   men  under  pretence  of  being 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  TOOK  THE  FIELD.      205 

deserters,  and  that  in  the  early  morning  he  should 
gain  command  of  the  gate  and  admit  the  others. 
The  Abbot,  it  is  true,  was  still  of  opinion  that  it 
was  dangerous  to  divide  our  force,  but  finding 
that  we  were  both  of  the  same  mind,  he  shrugged 
his  shoulders  and  gave  in. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  that  I  would  ask," 
said  he.  "  If  you  lay  hands  upon  this  ^Marshal 
Millefleurs— this  dog  of  a  brigand— what  will  you 
do  with  him  ?  " 

"  Hang  him,"  I  answered. 

"  It  is  too  easy  a  death,"  cried  the  Capuchin, 
with  a  vindictive  glow  in  his  dark  eyes.  '*  Had  I 
my  way  with  him — but,  oh,  what  thoughts  are 
these  for  a  servant  of  God  to  harbour !  "  He 
clapped  his  hands  to  his  forehead  like  one  who  is 
half  demented  by  his  troubles,  and  rushed  out  of 
the  room. 

There  was  an  important  point  which  we  had 
still  to  settle,  and  that  was  whether  the  French  or 
the  English  party  should  have  the  honour  of  enter- 
ing the  Abbey  first.  My  faith,  it  was  asking  a 
great  deal  of  Etienne  Gerard  that  he  should  give 
place  to  any  man  at  such  a  time  !  But  the  poor 
Bart,  pleaded  so  hard,  urging  the  few  poor  skir- 


206      THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

mishes  which  he  had  seen  against  my  four-and- 
seventy  engagements,  that  at  last  I  consented  that 
he  should  go.  We  had  just  clasped  hands  over 
the  matter  when  there  broke  out  such  a  shouting 
and  cursing  and  yelling  from  the  front  of  the  inn, 
that  out  we  rushed  with  our  drawn  sabres  in  our 
hands,  convinced  that  the  brigands  were  upon  us. 

You  may  imagine  our  feelings  when,  by  the 
light  of  the  lantern  which  hung  from  the  porch, 
we  saw  a  score  of  our  hussars  and  dragoons  all 
mixed  in  one  wild  heap,  red  coats  and  blue,  hel- 
mets and  busbies,  pommeling  each  other  to  their 
hearts'  content.  We  flung  ourselves  upon  them, 
imploring,  threatening,  tugging  at  a  lace  collar,  or 
at  a  spurred  heel,  until,  at  last,  we  had  dragged 
them  all  apart.  There  they  stood,  flushed  and 
bleeding,  glaring  at  each  other,  and  all  panting 
together  like  a  line  of  troop-horses  after  a  ten- 
mile  chase.  It  was  only  with  our  drawn  swords 
that  we  could  keep  them  from  each  other's  throats. 
The  poor  Capuchin  stood  in  the  porch  in  his 
long  brown  habit,  wringing  his  hands  and  calling 
upon  all  the  saints  for  mercy. 

He  was  indeed,  as  I  found  upon  inquiry,  the  in- 
nocent cause  of  all  the  turmoil,  for  not  understand- 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      20^ 

ing  how  soldiers  look  upon  such  things,  he  had 
made  some  remark  to  the  English  sergeant  that  it 
was  a  pity  that  his  squadron  was  not  as  good  as 
the  French.  The  words  were  not  out  of  his  mouth 
before  a  dragoon  knocked  down  the  nearest  hussar, 
and  then,  in  a  moment,  they  all  flew  at  each  other 
like  tigers.  We  would  trust  them  no  more  after 
that,  but  the  Bart,  moved  his  men  to  the  front  of 
the  inn,  and  I  mine  to  the  back,  the  English  all 
scowling  and  silent,  and  our  fellows  shaking  their 
fists  and  chattering,  each  after  the  fashion  of  their 
own  people. 

Well,  as  our  plans  were  made,  we  thought  it 
best  to  carry  them  out  at  once,  lest  some  fresh 
cause  of  quarrel  should  break  out  between  our  fol- 
lowers. The  Bart,  and  his  men  rode  off,  therefore, 
he  having  first  torn  the  lace  from  his  sleeves,  and 
the  gorget  and  sash  from  his  uniform,  so  that  he 
might  pass  as  a  simple  trooper.  He  explained  to 
his  men  what  it  was  that  was  expected  of  them, 
and  though  they  did  not  raise  a  cry  or  wave  their 
weapons  as  mine  might  have  done,  there  was  an 
expression  upon  their  stolid  and  clean-shaven  faces 
which  filled  me  with  confidence.  Their  tunics 
were  left  unbuttoned,  their  scabbards  and  helmets 


208       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

stained  with  dirt,  and  their  harness  badly  fastened, 
so  that  they  might  look  the  part  of  deserters,  with- 
out order  or  discipline.  At  six  o'clock  next  morn- 
ning  they  were  to  gain  command  of  the  main  gate 
of  the  Abbey,  while  at  that  same  hour  my  hussars 
were  to  gallop  up  to  it  from  outside.  The  Bart, 
and  I  pledged  our  words  to  it  before  he  trotted  off 
with  his  detachment.  My  sergeant,  Papilette,  with 
two  troopers,  followed  the  English  at  a  distance, 
and  returned  in  half  an  hour  to  say  that,  after  some 
parley,  and  the  flashing  of  lanterns  upon  them 
from  the  grille,  they  had  been  admitted  into  the 
Abbey. 

So  far,  then,  all  had  gone  well.  It  was  a  cloudy 
night  with  a  sprinkling  of  rain,  which  was  in  our 
favour,  as  there  was  the  less  chance  of  our  pres- 
ence being  discovered.  My  vedettes  I  placed  two 
hundred  yards  in  every  direction,  to  guard  against 
a  surprise,  and  also  to  prevent  any  peasant  who 
might  stumble  upon  us  from  carrying  the  news  to 
the  Abbey.  Oudin  and  Papilette  were  to  take 
turns  of  duty,  while  the  others  with  their  horses 
had  snug  quarters  in  a  great  wooden  granary. 
Having  walked  round  and  seen  that  all  was  as  it 
should  be,  I   flung  myself  upon  the  bed  which  the 


HOW   THE    BRIGADIER   TOOK    THE    FIELD.      209 

innkeeper   had   set   apart   for   me,  and   fell  into  a 
dreamless  sleep. 

No  doubt  you  have  heard  my  name  mentioned 
as  being  the  beau-ideal  of  a  soldier,  and  that  not 
only  by  friends  and  admirers  like  our  fellow- 
townsfolk,  but  also  by  old  officers  of  the  great 
wars  who  have  shared  the  fortunes  of  those  famous 
campaigns  with  me.  Truth  and  modesty  compel 
me  to  say,  however,  that  this  is  not  so.  There  are 
some  gifts  which  I  lack — very  few,  no  doubt — but, 
«till,  amid  the  vast  armies  of  the  Emperor  there 
may  have  been  some  who  were  free  from  those 
blemishes  which  stood  between  me  and  perfection. 
Of  bravery  I  say  nothing.  Those  who  have  seen 
me  in  the  field  are  best  fitted  to  speak  about  that. 
I  have  often  heard  the  soldiers  discussing  round 
the  camp-fires  as  to  who  was  the  bravest  man  in 
the  Grand  Army.  Some  said  Murat,  and  some 
said  Lasalle,  and  some  Ney  ;  but  for  my  own  part, 
when  they  asked  me,  I  merely  shrugged  my  shoul- 
ders and  smiled.  It  would  have  seemed  mere  con- 
ceit if  I  had  answered  that  there  was  no  man 
braver  than  Brigadier  Gerard.  At  the  same  time, 
facts  are  facts,  and  a  man  knows  best  what  his  own 
feelings  are.      But   there   are   other  gifts   besides 


2IO       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

bravery  which  are  necessary  for  a  soldier,  and  one 
of  them  is  that  he  should  be  a  light  sleeper.  Now, 
from  my  boyhood  onwards,  I  have  been  fiard  to 
wake,  and  it  was  this  which  brought  me  to  ruin 
upon  that  night. 

It  may  have  been  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning  that  I  was  suddenly  conscious  of  a  feeling 
of  suffocation.  I  tried  to  call  out,  but  there  was 
something  which  prevented  me  from  uttering  a 
sound.  I  struggled  to  rise,  but  I  could  only  floun- 
der like  a  ham-strung  horse.  I  was  strapped  at  the 
ankles,  strapped  at  the  knees,  and  strapped  again 
at  the  wrists.  Only  my  eyes  were  free  to  move, 
and  there  at  the  foot  of  my  couch,  by  the  light  of  a 
Portuguese  lamp,  whom  should  I  see  but  the  Ab- 
bot and  the  innkeeper ! 

The  latter's  heavy,  white  face  had  appeared  to 
me  when  I  looked  upon  it  the  evening  before  to 
express  nothing  but  stupidity  and  terror.  Now, 
on  the  contrary,  every  feature  bespoke  brutality 
and  ferocity.  Never  have  I  seen  a  more  dread- 
ful-looking villain.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  long, 
dull-coloured  knife.  The  Abbot,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  as  polished  and  as  dignified  as  ever. 
His  Capuchin  gown  had  been  thrown  open,  how- 


HOW   THE    BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE    FIELD.      211 

ever,  and  I  saw  beneath  it  a  black-frogged  coat, 
such  as  I  have  seen  among  the  English  officers. 
As  our  eyes  met  he  leaned  over  the  wooden  end 
of  the  bed  and  laughed  silently  until  it  creaked 
again. 

"You  will,  I  am  sure,  excuse  my  mirth,  my 
dear  Colonel  Gerard,"  said  he.  "  The  fact  is,  that 
the  expression  upon  your  face  when  you  grasped 
the  situation  was  just  a  little  funny.  I  have  no 
doubt  that  you  are  an  excellent  soldier,  but  I 
hardly  think  that  you  are  fit  to  measure  wits  with 
the  Marshal  Millefleurs,  as  your  fellows  have 
been  good  enough  to  call  me.  You  appear  to 
have  given  me  credit  for  singularly  little  intelli- 
gence, which  argues,  if  I  may  be  allowed  to  say 
so,  a  want  of  acuteness  upon  your  own  part. 
Indeed,  with  the  single  exception  of  my  thick- 
headed compatriot,  the  British  dragoon,  I  have 
never  met  anyone  who  w^as  less  competent  to 
carry  out  such  a  mission." 

You  can  imagine  how  I  felt,  and  how  I  looked, 
as  I  listened  to  this  insolent  harangue,  which  was 
all  delivered  in  that  flowery  and  condescending 
manner  which  had  gained  this  rascal  his  nickname. 
I  could  say  nothing,  but  they  must  have  read  my 


212       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

threat  in  my  eyes,  for  the  fellow  who  had  played 
the  part  of  the  innkeeper  whispered  something  to 
his  companion. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear  Chenier,  he  will  be  infin- 
itely more  valuable  alive,"  said  he.  *'  By  the  way, 
Colonel,  it  is  just  as  well  that  you  are  a  sound 
sleeper,  for  my  friend  here,  who  is  a  little  rough 
in  his  ways,  would  certainly  have  cut  your  throat 
if  you  had  raised  any  alarm.  I  should  recommend 
you  to  keep  in  his  good  graces,  for  Sergeant 
Chenier,  late  of  the  7th  Imperial  Light  Infantry, 
is  a  much  more  dangerous  person  than  Captain 
Alexis  Morgan,  of  His  Majesty's  foot-guards." 

Chenier  grinned  and  shook  his  knife  at  me, 
while  I  tried  to  look  the  loathing  which  I  felt  at 
the  thought  that  a  soldier  of  the  Emperor  could 
fall  so  low. 

"  It  may  amuse  you  to  know,"  said  the  Marshal, 
in  that  soft,  suave  voice  of  his,  "  that  both  your 
expeditions  were  watched  from  the  time  that  you 
left  your  respective  camps.  I  think  that  you  will 
allow  that  Chenier  and  I  played  our  parts  with 
some  subtlety.  We  had  made  every  arrangement 
for  your  reception  at  the  Abbey,  though  we  had 
hoped  to   receive    the  whole   squadron  instead  of 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE    FIELD.      213 

half.  When  the  gates  are  secured  behind  them, 
our  visitors  find  themselves  in  a  very  charming 
little  mediaeval  quadrangle,  with  no  possible  exit, 
commanded  by  musketry  fire  from  a  hundred 
v^rindows.  They  may  choose  to  be  shot  down ;  or 
they  may  choose  to  surrender.  Between  our- 
selves, I  have  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  they 
have  been  wise  enough  to  do  the  latter.  But 
since  you  are  naturally  interested  in  the  matter, 
we  thought  that  you  would  care  to  come  with  us 
and  to  see  for  yourself.  I  think  I  can  promise 
you  that  you  will  find  your  titled  friend  waiting 
for  you  at  the  Abbey  with  a  face  as  long  as  your 
own." 

The  two  villains  began  whispering  together, 
debating,  as  far  as  I  could  hear,  which  was  the 
best  way  of  avoiding  my  vedettes. 

"  I  will  make  sure  that  it  is  all  clear  upon  the 
other  side  of  the  barn,"  said  the  Marshal  at  last. 
"  You  will  stay  here,  my  good  Chenier,  and  if  the 
prisoner  gives  any  trouble  you  will  know  what 
to  do." 

So  we  were  left  together,  this  murderous  rene- 
gade and  I — he  sitting  at  the  end  of  the  bed, 
sharpening  his  knife  upon   his    boot  in   the  light 


214       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER    GERARD. 

of  the  single  smoky  little  oil-lamp.  As  to  me,  I 
only  wonder  now  as  I  look  back  upon  it,  that  I 
did  not  go  mad  with  vexation  and  self-reproach  as 
I  lay  helplessly  upon  the  couch,  unable  to  utter  a 
word  or  move  a  finger,  with  the  knowledge  that 
my  fifty  gallant  lads  were  so  close  to  me,  and  yet 
with  no  means  of  letting  them  know  the  straits  to 
which  I  was  reduced.  It  was  no  new  thing  to  me 
to  be  a  prisoner ;  but  to  be  taken  by  these  rene- 
gades, and  to  be  led  into  their  Abbey  in  the 
midst  of  their  jeers,  befooled  and  outwitted  by 
their  insolent  leaders — that  was  indeed  more  than 
I  could  endure.  The  knife  of  the  butcher  beside 
me  would  cut  less  deeply  than  that. 

I  twitched  softly  at  my  wrists,  and  then  at  my 
ankles,  but  whichever  of  the  two  had  secured  me 
was  no  bungler  at  his  work.  I  could  not  move 
either  of  them  an  inch.  Then  I  tried  to  work 
the  handkerchief  down  over  my  mouth,  but  the 
ruffian  beside  me  raised  his  knife  with  such  a 
threatening  snarl  that  I  had  to  desist.  I  was 
lying  still  looking  at  his  bull  neck,  and  wonder- 
ing whether  it  would  ever  be  my  good  fortune  to 
fit  it  for  a  cravat,  when  I  heard  returning  steps 
coming  down  the   inn   passage  and   up   the  stair. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER  TOOK   THE   FIELD.      21$ 

What  word  would  the  villain  bring  back  ?  If  he 
found  it  impossible  to  kidnap  me,  he  would  prob- 
ably murder  me  where  I  lay.  For  my  own  part, 
I  was  indifferent  which  it  might  be,  and  I  looked 
at  the  doorway  with  the  contempt  and  defiance 
which  I  longed  to  put  into  words.  But  you  can 
imagine  my  feelings,  my  dear  friends,  when,  in- 
stead of  the  tall  figure  and  dark,  sneering  face  of 
the  Capuchin,  my  eyes  fell  upon  the  grey  pelisse 
and  huge  moustaches  of  my  good  little  sub-officer 
Papilette  ! 

The  French  soldier  of  those  days  had  seen 
too  much  to  be  ever  taken  by  surprise.  His  eyes 
had  hardly  rested  upon  my  bound  figure  and  the 
sinister  face  beside  me  before  he  had  seen  how 
the  matter  lay. 

"  Sacred  name  of  a  dog !  "  he  growled,  and 
out  flashed  his  great  sabre.  Chenier  sprang  for- 
ward at  him  with  his  knife,  and  then,  thinking 
better  of  it,  he  darted  back  and  stabbed  frantically 
at  my  heart.  For  my  own  part,  I  had  hurled  my- 
self off  the  bed  on  the  side  opposite  to  him,  and 
the  blade  grazed  my  side  before  ripping  its  way 
through  blanket  and  sheet.  An  instant  later  I 
heard  the  thud  of   a   heavy  fall,  and   then  almost 


2l6      THE  EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

simultaneously  a  second  object  struck  the  floor — 
something  lighter  but  harder,  which  rolled  under 
the  bed.  I  will  not  horrify  you  with  details,  my 
friends.  Suffice  it  that  Papilette  was  one  of  the 
strongest  swordsmen  in  the  regiment,  and  that 
his  sabre  was  heavy  and  sharp.  It  left  a  red 
blotch  upon  my  wrists  and  my  ankles,  as  it  cut 
the  thongs  which  bound  me. 

When  I  had  thrown  off  my  gag,  the  first  use 
which  I  made  of  my  lips  was  to  kiss  the  ser- 
geant's scarred  cheeks.  The  next  was  to  ask  him 
if  all  was  well  with  the  command.  Yes,  they  had 
had  no  alarms.  Oudin  had  just  relieved  him,  and 
he  had  come  to  report.  Had  he  seen  the  Abbot  ? 
No,  he  had  seen  nothing  of  him.  Then  we  must 
form  a  cordon  and  prevent  his  escape.  I  was  hur- 
rying out  to  give  the  orders,  when  I  heard  a  slow 
and  measured  step  enter  the  door  below,  and 
come  creaking  up  the  stairs. 

Papilette  understood  it  all  in  an  instant.  "  You 
are  not  to  kill  him,"  I  whispered,  and  thrust  him 
into  the  shadow  on  one  side  of  the  door;  I 
crouched  on  the  other.  Up  he  came,  up  and  up, 
and  every  footfall  seemed  to  be  upon  my  heart. 
The  brown    skirt   of   his  gown  was  not   over  the  ' 


HOW   THE  BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.     21/ 

threshold  before  we  were  both  on  him,  like  two 
wolves  on  a  buck.  Down  we  crashed,  the  three  of 
us,  he  fighting  like  a  tiger,  and  with  such  amazing 
strength  that  he  might  have  broken  away  from 
the  two  of  us.  Thrice  he  got  to  his  feet,  and 
thrice  we  had  him  over  again,  until  Papilette 
made  him  feel  that  there  was  a  point  to  his  sabre. 
He  had  sense  enough  then  to  know  that  the  game 
was  up,  and  to  lie  still  while  I  lashed  him  with 
the  very  cords  which  had  been  round  my  own 
limbs. 

"  There  has  been  a  fresh  deal,  my  fine  fellow," 
said  I,  "  and  you  will  find  that  I  have  some  of  the 
trumps  in  my  hand  this  time." 

"  Luck  always  comes  to  the  aid  of  a  fool,"  he 
answered.  "  Perhaps  it  is  as  well,  otherwise  the 
world  would  fall  too  completely  into  the  power  of 
the  astute.  So,  you  have  killed  Chenier,  I  see. 
He  was  an  insubordinate  dog,  and  always  smelt 
abominably  of  garlic.  Might  I  trouble  you  to  lay 
me  upon  the  bed  ?  The  floor  of  these  Portuguese 
tabernas  is  hardly  a  fitting  couch  for  anyone  who 
has  prejudices  in  favour  of  cleanliness." 

I  could  not  but  admire  the  coolness  of  the 
man,  and  the  way  in  which  he  preserved  the  same 


2l8       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

insolent  air  of  condescension  in  spite  of  this  sud- 
den turning  of  the  tables.  I  dispatched  Papilette 
to  summon  a  guard,  whilst  I  stood  over  our  pris- 
oner with  my  drawn  sword,  never  taking  my  eyes 
off  him  for  an  instant,  for  I  must  confess  that  I 
had  conceived  a  great  respect  for  his  audacity 
and  resource. 

"  I  trust,"  said  he,  **  that  your  men  will  treat 
me  in  a  becoming  manner." 

"  You  will  get  your  deserts — you  may  depend 
upon  that." 

"  I  ask  nothing  more.  You  may  not  be  aware 
of  my  exalted  birth,  but  I  am  so  placed  that  I 
cannot  name  my  father  without  treason,  nor  my 
mother  without  a  scandal.  I  cannot  claim  Royal 
honours,  but  these  things  are  so  much  more  grace- 
ful when  they  are  conceded  without  a  claim.  The 
thongs  are  cutting  my  skin.  Might  I  beg  you  to 
loosen  them  ?  " 

"  You  do  not  give  me  credit  for  much  intelli- 
gence," I  remarked,  repeating  his  own  words. 

''  Toucy;'  he  cried,  like  a  pinked  fencer.  "  But 
here  come  your  men,  so  it  matters  little  whether 
you  loosen  them  or  not." 

I  ordered    the  gown  to  be  stripped    from  him 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  TOOK  THE  FIELD.      219 

and  placed  him  under  a  strong  guard.     Then,  as 

morning  was  already  breaking,  I  had  to  consider 

what   my   next  step   was  to  be.      The  poor  Bart. 

and  his  Englishmen  had  fallen  victims  to  the  deep 

scheme   which    might,   had   we    adopted    all    the 

crafty  suggestions  of   our  adviser,  have  ended   in 

the  capture  of  the  whole   instead  of   the   half  of 

our    force.      I    must    extricate    them    if   it    were 

still  possible.      Then  there  was  the  old  lady,  the 

Countess  of  La  Ronda,  to  be  thought  of.      As  to 

the  Abbey,  since  its  garrison  was  on  the  alert  it 

was    hopeless    to    think   of    capturing    that.      All 

turned   now   upon   the   value   which   they  placed 

upon  their  leader.     The  game  depended  upon  my 

playing  that  one  card.     I  will  tell  you  how  boldly 

and  how  skilfully  I  played  it. 

It  was  hardly  light  before  my  bugler  blew  the 

assembly,  and    out   we   trotted    on   to   the   plain. 

My  prisoner  was  placed  on  horseback  in  the  very 

centre  of  the  troops.     It  chanced  that  there  was  a 

large  tree  just  out  of  musket-shot  from  the  main 

gate   of   the    Abbey,   and    under   this   we  halted. 

Had  they  opened  the  great  doors  in  order  to  at- 

tack  us,  I  should  have  charged  home  upon  them ; 

but,  as  I   had  expected,  they  stood  upon  the  de- 
15 


220       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

fensive,  lining  the  long  wall  and  pouring  down  a 
torrent  of  hootings  and  taunts  and  derisive  laugh- 
ter upon  us.  A  few  fired  their  muskets,  but  find- 
ing that  we  were  out  of  reach  they  soon  ceased  to 
waste  their  powder.  It  was  the  strangest  sight  to 
see  that  mixture  of  uniforms,  French,  English,  and 
Portuguese,  cavalry,  infantry  and  artillery,  all 
wagging  their  heads  and  shaking  their  fists  at  us. 

My  word,  their  hubbub  soon  died  away  when 
we  opened  our  ranks,  and  showed  whom  we  had 
got  in  the  midst  of  us !  There  was  silence  for  a 
few  seconds,  and  then  such  a  howl  of  rage  and 
grief !  I  could  see  some  of  them  dancing  like 
madmen  upon  the  wall.  He  must  have  been  a 
singular  person,  this  prisoner  of  ours,  to  have 
gained  the  affection  of  such  a  gang. 

I  had  brought  a  rope  from  the  inn,  and  we 
slung  it  over  the  lower  bough  of  the  tree. 

"  You  will  permit  me,  monsieur,  to  undo  your 
collar,"  said  Papilette,  with  mock  politeness. 

"  If  your  hands  are  perfectly  clean,"  answered 
our  prisoner,  and  set  the  whole  half-squadron 
laughing. 

There  was  another  yell  from  the  wall,  followed 
by  a  profound  hush  as  the  noose   was  tightened 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      221 

round  Marshal  Millefleurs'  neck.  Then  came  a 
shriek  from  a  bugle,  the  Abbey  gates  flew  open, 
and  three  men  rushed  out  waving  white  cloths  in 
their  hands.  Ah,  how  my  heart  bounded  with  joy 
at  the  sight  of  them.  And  yet  I  would  not  ad- 
vance an  inch  to  meet  them,  so  that  all  the  eager- 
ness might  seem  to  be  upon  their  side.  I  allowed 
my  trumpeter,  however,  to  wave  a  handkerchief  in 
reply,  upon  which  the  three  envoys  came  running 
towards  us.  The  Marshal,  still  pinioned,  and  with 
the  rope  round  his  neck,  sat  his  horse  with  a  half 
smile,  as  one  who  is  slightly  bored  and  yet  strives 
out  of  courtesy  not  to  show  it.  If  I  were  in  such  a 
situation  I  could  not  wish  to  carry  myself  better, 
and  surely  I  can  say  no  more  than  that. 

They  were  a  singular  trio,  these  ambassadors. 
The  one  was  a  Portuguese  cagadore  in  his  dark 
uniform,  the  second  a  French  chasseur  in  the  light- 
est green,  and  the  third  a  big  English  artilleryman 
in  blue  and  gold.  They  saluted,  all  three,  and  the 
Frenchman  did  the  talking. 

"  We  have  thirty-seven  English  dragoons  in  our 
hands,"  said  he.  "  We  give  you  our  most  solemn 
oath  that  they  shall  all  hang  from  the  Abbey  wall 
within  five  minutes  of  the  death  of  our  Marshal." 


222       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  Thirty-seven ! "  I  cried.    "  You  have  fifty-one." 
"  Fourteen  were  cut  down  before  they  could  be 
secured." 

"And  the  officer?" 

"  He  would  not  surrender  his  sword  save  with 
his  life.  It  was  not  our  fault.  We  would  have 
saved  him  if  we  could." 

Alas  for  my  poor  Bart. !  I  had  met  him  but 
twice,  and  yet  he  was  a  man  very  much  after  my 
heart.  I  have  always  had  a  regard  for  the  English 
for  the  sake  of  that  one  friend.  A  braver  man  and 
a  worse  swordsman  I  have  never  met. 

I  did  not,  as  you  may  think,  take  these  rascals* 
words  for  anything.  Papilette  was  dispatched 
with  one  of  them,  and  returned  to  say  that  it  was 
too  true.     I  had  now  to  think  of  the  living. 

"  You  will  release  the  thirty-seven  dragoons  if  I 
free  your  leader  ?  " 

*'  We  will  give  you  ten  of  them." 
"  Up  with  him  !  " 
"  Twenty,"  shouted  the  chasseur. 
"No    more    words,"    said    I.      "Pull    on    the 
rope ! " 

"All  of  them,"  cried  the  envoy,  as  the  cord 
tightened  round  the  Marshal's  neck. 


HOW  THE   BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE    FIELD.      223 

"  With  horses  and  arms  ?  " 

They  could  see  that  I  was  not  a  man  to  jest 
with. 

"  All  complete/*  said  the  chasseur,  sulkily. 

"  And  the  Countess  of  La  Ronda  as  well  ? " 
said  I. 

But  here  I  met  with  firmer  opposition.  No 
threats  of  mine  could  induce  them  to  give  up  the 
Countess.  We  tightened  the  cord.  We  moved 
the  horse.  We  did  all  but  leave  the  Marshal  sus- 
pended. If  once  I  broke  his  neck  the  dragoons 
were  dead  men.  It  was  as  precious  to  me  as  to 
them. 

"Allow  me  to  remark,"  said  the  Marshal, 
blandly,  "  that  you  are  exposing  me  to  a  risk  of  a 
quinsy.  Do  you  not  think,  since  there  is  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion  upon  this  point,  that  it  would  be 
an  excellent  idea  to  consult  the  lady  herself?  We 
would  neither  of  us,  I  am  sure,  wish  to  over-ride 
her  own  inclinations." 

Nothing  could  be  more  satisfactory.  You  can 
imagine  how  quickly  I  grasped  at  so  simple  a  solu- 
tion. In  ten  minutes  she  was  before  us,  a  most 
stately  dame,  with  her  grey  curls  peeping  out  from 
under   her   mantilla.     Her   face  was  as  yellow  as 


224      THE    EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

though  it  reflected  the  countless  doubloons  of  her 
treasury. 

''  This  gentleman,"  said  the  Marshal,  "  is  ex- 
ceedingly anxious  to  convey  you  to  a  place  where 
you  will  never  see  us  more.  It  is  for  you  to  decide 
whether  you  would  wish  to  go  with  him,  or 
whether  you  prefer  to  remain  with  me." 

She  was  at  his  horse's  side  in  an  instant.  "  My 
own  Alexis,"  she  cried,  "nothing  can  ever  part 
us." 

He  looked  at  me  with  a  sneer  upon  his  hand- 
some face. 

"  By  the  way,  you  made  a  small  slip  of  the 
tongue,  my  dear  Colonel,"  said  he.  "  Except  by 
courtesy,  no  such  person  exists  as  the  Dowager 
Countess  of  La  Ronda.  The  lady  whom  I  have 
the  honour  to  present  to  you  is  my  very  dear  wife, 
Mrs.  Alexis  Morgan — or  shall  I  say  Madame  la 
Mar^chale  Millefleurs  ? " 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  I  was  dealing  with  the  cleverest,  and 
also  the  most  unscrupulous,  man  whom  I  had  ever 
met.  As  I  looked  upon  this  unfortunate  old 
woman  my  soul  was  filled  with  wonder  and  dis- 
gust.    As  for  her,  her  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face 


Her  eyes  were  raised  to  his  face. 


HOW   THE    BRIGADIER   TOOK   THE   FIELD.      22$ 

with  such  a  look  as  a  young  recruit  might  give  to 
the  Emperor. 

"  So  be  it,"  said  I,  at  last ;  **  give  me  the  dra- 
goons and  let  me  go." 

They  were  brought  out  with  their  horses  and 
weapons,  and  the  rope  was  taken  from  the  Mar- 
shal's neck. 

"  Good-bye,  my  dear  Colonel,"  said  he.  "  I  am 
afraid  that  you  will  have  rather  a  lame  account 
to  give  of  your  mission,  when  you  find  your  way 
back  to  Massena,  though,  from  all  I  hear,  he  will 
probably  be  too  busy  to  think  of  you.  I  am  free 
to  confess  that  you  have  extricated  yourself  from 
your  difficulties  with  greater  ability  than  I  had 
given  you  credit  for.  I  presume  that  there  is 
nothing  which  I  can  do  for  you  before  you 
go?" 

"There  is  one  thing." 

"And  that  is?" 

"To  give  fitting  burial  to  this  young  officer 
and  his  men." 

"  I  pledge  my  word  to  it." 

"  And  there  is  one  other." 

"Name  it." 

"To  give  me  five  minutes  in  the  open  with  a 


226       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

sword  in  your  hand  and  a  horse  between  your 
legs." 

*•  Tut,  tut !  "  said  he.  "  I  should  either  have  to 
cut  short  your  promising  career,  or  else  to  bid 
adieu  to  my  own  bonny  bride.  It  is  unreasonable 
to  ask  such  a  request  of  a  man  in  the  first  joys 
of  matrimony." 

I  gathered  my  horsemen  together  and  wheeled 
them  into  column. 

"Au  revoir,"  I  cried,  shaking  my  sword  at 
him.  "  The  next  time  you  may  not  escape  so 
easily." 

"Au  revoir,"  he  answered.  "When  you  are 
weary  of  the  Emperor,  you  will  always  find  a  com- 
mission waiting  for  you  in  the  service  of  the  Mar- 
shal Millefleurs." 


VI. 


HOW   THE   BRIGADIER   PLAYED   FOR  A 
KINGDOM. 

It  has  sometimes  struck  me  that  some  of  you, 
when  you  have  heard  me  tell  these  little  adven- 
tures of  mine,  may  have  gone  away  with  the  im- 
pression that  I  was  conceited.  There  could  not  be 
a  greater  mistake  than  this,  for  I  have  always  ob- 
served that  really  fine  soldiers  are  free  from  this 
failing.  It  is  true  that  I  have  had  to  depict  my- 
self sometimes  as  brave,  sometimes  as  full  of 
resource,  always  as  interesting  ;  but,  then,  it  really 
was  so,  and  I  had  to  take  the  facts  as  I  found 
them.  It  would  be  an  unworthy  affectation  if  I 
were  to  pretend  that  my  career  has  been  any- 
thing but  a  fine  one.  The  incident  which  I  will 
tell  you  to-night,  however,  is  one  which  you 
will  understand  that   only   a  modest   man  would 

describe.      After  all,  when  one   has  attained  such 

227 


228       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

a  position  as  mine,  one  can  afford  to  speak  of 
what  an  ordinary  man  might  be  tempted  to  con- 
ceal. 

You  must  know,  then,  that  after  the  Russian 
campaign    the   remains    of    our  poor  army   were 
quartered   along   the  western    bank  of   the    Elbe, 
where   they  might   thaw  their   frozen   blood   and 
try,  with  the  help  of   the  good   German  beer,  to 
put  a  little    between   their  skin   and    their  bones. 
There    wevG   some    things    which    we    could    not 
hope  to   regain,  for   I    daresay   that   three    large 
commissariat  fourgons  would  not  have  sufficed  to 
carry   the  fingers   and   the  toes  which   the  army 
had    shed    during    that    retreat.      Still,   lean   and 
crippled  as  we  were,  we  had  much   to  be  thank- 
ful  for  when  we  thought   of   our  poor  comrades 
whom  we  had  left  behind,  and  of  the  snowfields 
—the  horrible,  horrible  snowfields.     To  this  day, 
my  friends,  I  do  not  care  to  see  red  and  white  to- 
gether.     Even   my  red    cap  thrown    down   upon 
my  white   counterpane   has   given  me   dreams  in 
which  I    have   seen   those   monstrous   plains,   the 
reeling,  tortured    army,  and    the   crimson   smears 
which  glared  upon  the  snow  behind  them.      You 
will  coax  no  story  out  of  me  about  that  business, 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  229 

for  the  thought  of  it  is  enough  to  turn  my  wine 
to  vinegar  and  my  tobacco  to  straw. 

Of  the  half-million  who  crossed  the  Elbe  in  the 
autumn  of  the  year  '12,  about  forty  thousand  in- 
fantry were  left  in  the  spring  of  '13.  But  they 
were  terrible  men,  these  forty  thousand  ;  men  of 
iron,  eaters  of  horses,  and  sleepers  in  the  snow  ; 
filled,  too,  with  rage  and  bitterness  against  the 
Russians.  They  would  hold  the  Elbe  until  the 
great  army  of  conscripts,  which  the  Emperor  was 
raising  in  France,  should  be  ready  to  help  them 
to  cross  it  once  more. 

But  the  cavalry  was  in  a  deplorable  condition. 
My  own  hussars  were  at  Borna,  and  when  I  pa- 
raded them  first,  I  burst  into  tears  at  the  sight  of 
them.  My  fine  men  and  my  beautiful  horses — it 
broke  my  heart  to  see  the  state  to  which  they 
were  reduced.  "  But,  courage,"  I  thought,  "  they 
have  lost  much,  but  their  Colonel  is  still  left  to 
them."  I  set  to  work,  therefore,  to  repair  their 
disasters,  and  had  already  constructed  two  good 
squadrons,  when  an  order  came  that  all  colonels  of 
cavalry  should  repair  instantly  to  the  depots  of 
the  regiments  in  France  to  organize  the  recruits 
and  the  remounts  for  the  coming  campaign. 


230      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

You  will  think,  doubtless,  that  I  was  overjoyed 
at  this  chance  of  visiting  home  once  more.  I  will 
not  deny  that  it  was  a  pleasure  to  me  to  know 
that  I  should  see  my  mother  again,  and  there 
were  a  few  girls  who  would  be  very  glad  at  the 
news  ;  but  there  were  others  in  the  army  who  had 
a  stronger  claim.  I  would  have  given  my  place  to 
any  who  had  wives  and  children  whom  they  might 
not  see  again.  However,  there  is  no  arguing 
when  the  blue  paper  with  the  little  red  seal 
arrives,  so  within  an  hour  I  was  off  upon  my 
great  ride  from  the  Elbe  to  the  Vosges.  At  last, 
I  was  to  have  a  period  of  quiet.  War  lay  behind 
my  mare's  tail  and  peace  in  front  of  her  nostrils. 
So  I  thought,  as  the  sound  of  the  bugles  died  in 
the  distance,  and  the  long,  white  road  curled  away 
in  front  of  me  through  plain  and  forest  and 
mountain,  with  France  somewhere  beyond  the 
blue  haze  which  lay  upon  the  horizon. 

It  is  interesting,  but  it  is  also  fatiguing,  to  ride 
in  the  rear  of  an  army.  In  the  harvest  time  our 
soldiers  could  do  without  supplies,  for  they  had 
been  trained  to  pluck  the  grain  in  the  fields  as 
they  passed,  and  to  grind  it  for  themselves  in 
their  bivouacs.     It  was  at  that  time  of  year,  there- 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  23 1 

fore,  that  those  swift  marches  were  performed 
which  were  the  wonder  and  the  despair  of  Europe. 
But  now  the  starving  men  had  to  be  made  robust 
once  more,  and  I  was  forced  to  draw  into  the 
ditch  continually,  as  the  Coburg  sheep  and  the 
Bavarian  bullocks  came  streaming  past  with  wag- 
gon loads  of  Berlin  beer  and  good  French  cognac. 
Sometimes,  too,  I  would  hear  the  dry  rattle  of  the 
drums  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  fifes,  and  long 
columns  of  our  good  little  infantry  men  would 
swing  past  me  with  the  white  dust  lying  thick 
upon  their  blue  tunics.  These  were  old  soldiers 
drawn  from  the  garrisons  of  our  German  for- 
tresses, for  it  was  not  until  May  that  the  new 
conscripts  began  to  arrive  from  France. 

Well,  I  was  rather  tired  of  this  eternal  stop- 
ping and  dodging,  so  that  I  was  not  sorry  when 
I  came  to  Altenburg  to  find  that  the  road  divided, 
and  that  I  could  take  the  southern  and  quieter 
branch.  There  were  few  wayfarers  between  there 
and  Greiz,  and  the  road  wound  through  groves  of 
oaks  and  beeches,  which  shot  their  branches  across 
the  path.  You  will  think  it  strange  that  a  Colonel 
of  hussars  should  again  and  again  pull  up  his 
horse  in  order  to  admire  the  beauty  of  the  feath- 


232       THE  EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

ery  branches  and  the  little,  green,  new-budded 
leaves,  but  if  you  had  spent  six  months  among 
the  fir  trees  of  Russia  you  would  be  able  to  un- 
derstand me. 

There  was  something,  however,  which  pleased 
me  very  much  less  than  the  beauty  of  the  forests, 
and  that  was  the  words  and  looks  of  the  folk  who 
lived  in  the  woodland  villages.  We  had  always 
been  excellent  friends  with  the  Germans,  and  dur- 
ing the  last  six  years  they  had  never  seemed  to 
bear  us  any  malice  for  having  made  a  little  free 
with  their  country.  We  had  shown  kindnesses  to 
the  men  and  received  them  from  the  women,  so 
that  good,  comfortable  Germany  was  a  second 
home  to  all  of  us.  But  now  there  was  something 
which  I  could  not  understand  in  the  behaviour  of 
the  people.  The  travellers  made  no  answer  to  my 
salute ;  the  foresters  turned  their  heads  away  to 
avoid  seeing  me ;  and  in  the  villages  the  folk 
would  gather  into  knots  in  the  roadway  and 
would  scowl  at  me  as  I  passed.  Even  women 
would  do  this,  and  it  was  something  new  for  me 
in  those  days  to  see  anything  but  a  smile  in  a 
woman's  eyes  when  they  were  turned  upon  me. 

It  was  in  the  hamlet  of  Schmolin,  just  ten  miles 


I 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  233 

out  of  Altenburg,  that  the  thing  became  most 
marked.  I  had  stopped  at  the  little  inn  there  just 
to  damp  my  moustache  and  to  wash  the  dust  out 
of  poor  Violette's  throat.  It  was  my  way  to  give 
some  little  compliment,  or  possibly  a  kiss,  to  the 
maid  who  served  me;  but  this  one  would  have 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other,  but  darted  a  glance 
at  me  like  a  bayonet-thrust.  Then  when  I  raised 
my  glass  to  the  folk  who  drank  their  beer  by  the 
door  they  turned  their  backs  on  me,  save  only  one 
fellow,  who  cried,  "  Here's  a  toast  for  you,  boys ! 
Here's  to  the  letter  T ! "  At  that  they  all  emp- 
tied  their  beer  mugs  and  laughed ;  but  it  was  not 
a  laugh  that  had  good-fellowship  in  it. 

I  was  turning  this  over  in  my  head  and  won- 
dering what  their  boorish  conduct  could  mean, 
when  I  saw,  as  I  rode  from  the  village,  a  great 
T  new  carved  upon  a  tree.  I  had  already  seen 
more  than  one  in  my  morning's  ride,  but  I  had 
given  no  thought  to  them  until  the  words  of  the 
beer-drinker  gave  them  an  importance.  It  chanced 
that  a  respectable-looking  person  was  riding  past  me 
at  the  moment,  so  1  turned  to  him  for  information. 

"  Can  you  tell  me,  sir,"  said  I,  "  what  this  let- 
ter T  is?" 


234      THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

He  looked  at  it  and  then  at  me  in  the  most 
singular  fashion.  "  Young  man,"  said  he,  "  it  is 
not  the  letter  N."  Then  before  'I  could  ask  fur- 
ther he  clapped  his  spurs  into  his  horse's  ribs  and 
rode,  stomach  to  earth,  upon  his  way. 

At  first  his  words  had  no  particular  significance 
in  my  mind,  but  as  I  trotted  onwards  Violette 
chanced  to  half  turn  her  dainty  head,  and  my 
eyes  were  caught  by  the  gleam  of  the  brazen  N's 
at  the  end  of  the  bridle-chain.  It  was  the  Em- 
peror's mark.  And  those  T's  meant  something 
which  was  opposite  to  it.  Things  had  been  hap- 
pening in  Germany,  then,  during  our  absence,  and 
the  giant  sleeper  had  begun  to  'stir.  I  thought  of 
the  mutinous  faces  that  I  had  seen,  and  I  felt  that 
if  I  could  only  have  looked  into  the  hearts  of 
these  people  I  might  have  had  some  strange  news 
to  bring  into  France  with  me.  It  made  me  the 
more  eager  to  get  my  remounts,  and  to  see  ten 
strong  squadrons  behind  my  kettledrums  once 
more. 

While  these  thoughts  were  passing  through 
my  head  I  had  been  alternately  walking  and  trot- 
ting, as  a  man  should  who  has  a  long  journey 
before,   and   a  willing   horse   beneath,  him.      The 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  235 

woods  were  very  open  at  this  point,  and  beside 
the  road  there  lay  a  great  heap  of  fagots.  As  I 
passed  there  came  a  sharp  sound  from  among 
them,  and,  glancing  round,  I  saw  a  face  looking 
out  at  me — a  hot,  red  face,  like  that  of  a  man  who 
is  beside  himself  with  excitement  and  anxiety.  A 
second  glance  told  me  that  it  was  the  very  per- 
son with  whom  I  had  talked  an  hour  before  in 
the  village. 

"  Come  nearer ! "  he  hissed.  "  Nearer  still ! 
Now  dismount  and  pretend  to  be  mending  the 
stirrup  leather.  Spies  may  be  watching  us,  and 
it  means  death  to  me  if  I  am  seen  helping  you." 

"  Death  !  "  I  whispered.     "  From  whom  ?  " 

"  From  the  Tugendbund.  From  Lutzow's 
night-riders.  You  Frenchmen  are  living  on  a 
powder  magazine,  and  the  match  has  been  struck 
which  will  fire  it." 

"  But  this  is  all  strange  to  me,"  said  I,  still 
fumbling  at  the  leathers  of  my  horse.  "  What  is 
this  Tugendbund  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  secret  society  which  has  planned  the 
great  rising  which  is  to  drive  you  out  of  Ger- 
many, just  as  you  have  been  driven  out  of  Rus- 
sia." 

16 


236       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"And  these  T's  stand  for  it?" 
"  They  are  the  signal.  I  should  have  told  you 
all  this  in  the  village,  but  I  dared  not  be  seen 
speaking  with  you.  I  galloped  through  the  woods 
to  cut  you  off,  and  concealed  both  my  horse  and 
myself.'* 

"  I  am  very  much  indebted  to  you,"  said  I, 
"and  the  more  so  as  you  are  the  only  German 
that  I  have  met  to-day  from  whom  I  have  had 
common  civility." 

"  All  that  I  possess  I  have  gained  through  con- 
tracting for  the  French  armies,"  said  he.  "Your 
Emperor  has  been  a  good  friend  to  me.  But  I 
beg  that  you  will  ride  on  now,  for  we  have  talked 
long  enough.  Beware  only  of  Lutzow's  night- 
riders  ! " 

"Banditti?"  I  asked. 

"  All  that  is  best  in  Germany,"  said  he.  "  But 
for  God's  sake  ride  forwards,  for  I  have  risked 
my  life  and  exposed  my  good  name  in  order  to 
carry  you  this  warning." 

Well,  if  I  had  been  heavy  with  thought  before, 
you  can  think  how  I  felt  after  my  strange  talk 
with  the  man  among  the  fagots.  What  came  home 
to  me  even  more  than  his  words  was  his  shivering, 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  237 

broken  voice,  his  twitching  face,  and  his  eyes 
glancing  swiftly  to  right  and  left,  and  opening  in 
horror  whenever  a  branch  cracked  upon  a  tree. 
It  was  clear  that  he  was  in  the  last  extremity  of 
terror,  and  it  is  possible  that  he  had  cause,  for 
long  after  I  had  left  him  I  heard  a  distant  gun- 
shot and  a  shouting  from  somewhere  behind  me. 
It  may  have  been  some  sportsman  halloaing  to  his 
dogs,  but  I  never  again  heard  or  saw  the  man 
who  had  given  me  my  warning. 

I  kept  a  good  look-out  after  this,  riding  swiftly 
where  the  country  was  open,  and  slowly  where 
there  might  be  an  ambuscade.  It  was  serious  for 
me,  since  500  good  miles  of  German  soil  lay  in 
front  of  me,  but  somehow  I  did  not  take  it  very 
much  to  heart,  for  the  Germans  had  always  seemed 
to  me  to  be  a  kindly,  gentle  people,  whose  hands 
closed  more  readily  round  a  pipe-stem  than  a 
sword-hilt — not  out  of  want  of  valour,  you  under- 
stand, but  because  they  are  genial,  open  souls,  who 
would  rather  be  on  good  terms  with  all  men.  I  did 
not  know  then  that  beneath  that  homely  surface 
there  lurks  a  devilry  as  fierce  as,  and  far  more 
persistent  than,  that  of  the  Castilian  or  the  Italian. 

And  it  was   not    long    before  I    had  shown  to 


238       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

me  that  there  was  something  more  serious  abroad 
than  rough  words  and  hard  looks.  I  had  come 
to  a  spot  where  the  road  runs  upwards  through 
a  wild  tract  of  heathland  and  vanishes  into  an 
oak  wood.  I  may  have  been  half-way  up  the  hill 
when,  looking  forward,  I  saw  something  gleaming 
under  the  shadow  of  the  tree-trunks,  and  a  man 
came  out  with  a  coat  which  was  so  slashed  and 
spangled  with  gold  that  he  blazed  like  a  fire  in 
the  sunlight.  He  appeared  to  be  very  drunk,  for 
he  reeled  and  staggered  as  he  came  towards  me. 
One  of  his  hands  was  held  up  to  his  ear  and 
clutched  a  great  red  handkerchief,  which  was 
fixed  to  his  neck. 

I  had  reined  up  the  mare  and  was  looking  at 
him  with  some  disgust,  for  it  seemed  strange  to 
me  that  one  who  wore  so  gorgeous  a  uniform 
should  show  himself  in  such  a  state  in  broad  day- 
light. For  his  part,  he  looked  hard  in  my  direc- 
tion and  came  slowly  onwards,  stopping  from  time 
to  time  and  swaying  about  as  he  gazed  at  me. 
Suddenly,  as  I  again  advanced,  he  screamed  out  his 
thanks  to  Christ,  and,  lurching  forwards,  he  fell 
with  a  crash  upon  the  dusty  road.  His  hands 
flew  forward  with  the  fall,  and  I  saw  that  what  I 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  239 

had  taken  for  a  red  cloth  was  a  monstrous  wound, 
which  had  left  a  great  gap  in  his  neck,  from 
which  a  dark  blood-clot  hung,  like  an  epaulette 
upon  his  shoulder. 

"  My  God !  "  I  cried,  as  I  sprang  to  his  aid. 
"And  I  thought  that  you  were  drunk!" 

"  Not  drunk,  but  dying,"  said  he.  "  But  thank 
Heaven  that  I  have  seen  a  French  officer  while 
I  had  still  strength  to  speak." 

I  laid  him  among  the  heather  and  poured 
some  brandy  down  his  throat.  All  round  us  was 
the  vast  countryside,  green  and  peaceful,  with 
nothing  living  in  sight  save  only  the  mutilated 
man  beside  me. 

"  Who  has  done  this  ?  "  I  asked,  "  and  what  are 
you?  You  are  French,  and  yet  the  uniform  is 
strange  to  me." 

"  It  is  that  of  the  Emperor's  new  guard  of  hon- 
our. I  am  the  Marquis  of  Chateau  St.  Arnaud, 
and  I  am  the  ninth  of  my  blood  who  has  died  in 
the  service  of  France.  I  have  been  pursued  and 
wounded  by  the  night-riders  of  Lutzow,  but  I 
hid  among  the  brushwood  yonder,  and  waited  in 
the  hope  that  a  Frenchman  might  pass.  I  could 
not  be  sure  at  first  if  you  were  friend  or  foe,  but 


240       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

I  felt  that  death  was   very  near,  and  that  I  must 
take  the  chance." 

"  Keep  your  heart  up,  comrade,"  said  I ;  "  I 
have  seen  a  man  with  a  worse  wound  who  has 
lived  to  boast  of  it." 

"  No,  no,"  he  whispered  ;  "  I  am  going  fast." 
He  laid  his  hand  upon  mine  as  he  spoke,  and  I 
saw  that  his  finger-nails  were  already  blue.  *'  But 
I  have  papers  here  in  my  tunic  which  you  must 
carry  at  once  to  the  Prince  of  Saxe-Felstein,  at 
his  Castle  of  Hof.  He  is  still  true  to  us,  but  the 
Princess  is  our  deadly  enemy.  She  is  striving  to 
make  him  declare  against  us.  If  he  does  so,  it 
will  determine  all  those  who  are  wavering,  for 
the  King  of  Prussia  is  his  uncle  and  the  King  of 
Bavaria  his  cousin.  These  papers  will  hold  him 
to  us  if  they  can  only  reach  him  before  he  takes 
the  last  step.  Place  them  in  his  hands  to-night, 
and,  perhaps,  you  will  have  saved  all  Germany 
for  the  Emperor.     Had  my  horse    not  been  shot, 

I  might,  wounded   as    I   am "  he  choked,  and 

the  cold  hand  tightened  into  a  grip,  which  left 
mine  as  bloodless  as  itself.  Then  with  a  groan 
his  head  jerked  back,  and  it  was  all  over  with 
him. 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  241 

Here  was  a  fine  start  for  my  journey  home.  I 
was  left  with  a  commission  of  which  I  knew 
little,  which  would  lead  me  to  delay  the  pressing 
needs  of  my  hussars,  and  which  at  the  same  time 
was  of  such  importance  that  it  was  impossible  for 
me  to  avoid  it.  I  opened  the  Marquis's  tunic,  the 
brilliance  of  which  had  been  devised  by  the  Em- 
peror in  order  to  attract  those  young  aristocrats 
from  whom  he  hoped  to  raise  these  new  regiments 
of  his  Guard.  It  was  a  small  packet  of  papers 
which  I  drew  out,  tied  up  with  silk,  and  addressed 
to  the  Prince  of  Saxe-Felstein.  In  the  corner  in  a 
sprawling,  untidy  hand,  which  I  knew  to  be  the 
Emperor's  own,  was  written  :  *'  Pressing  and  most 
important."  It  was  an  order  to  me,  those  four 
words — an  order  as  clear  as  if  it  had  come  straight 
from  the  firm  lips  with  the  cold  grey  eyes  look- 
ing into  mine.  My  troopers  might  wait  for  their 
horses,  the  dead  Marquis  might  lie  where  I  had 
laid  him  amongst  the  heather,  but  if  the  mare  and 
her  rider  had  a  breath  left  in  them  the  papers 
should  reach  the  Prince  that  night. 

I  should  not  have  feared  to  ride  by  the  road 
through  the  wood,  for  I  have  learned  in  Spain 
that  the    safest    time    to    pass    through  a   guerilla 


242       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

country  is  after  an  outrage,  and  that  the  moment 
of  danger  is  when  all  is  peaceful.  When  I  came 
to  look  upon  my  map,  however,  I  saw  that  Hof 
lay  further  to  the  south  of  me,  and  that  I  might 
reach  it  more  directly  by  keeping  to  the  moors. 
Off  I  set,  therefore,  and  had  not  gone  fifty  yards 
before  two  carbine  shots  rang  out  of  the  brush- 
wood and  a  bullet  hummed  past  me  like  a  bee. 
It  was  clear  that  the  night-riders  were  bolder  in 
their  ways  than  the  brigands  of  Spain,  and  that 
my  mission  would  have  ended  where  it  had  be- 
gun if  I  had  kept  to  the  road. 

It  was  a  mad  ride,  that — a  ride  with  a  loose 
rein,  girth-deep  in  heather  and  in  gorse,  plunging 
through  bushes,  flying  down  hillsides,  with  my 
neck  at  the  mercy  of  my  dear  little  Violette.  But 
she — she  never  slipped,  she  never  faltered,  as  swift 
and  as  surefooted  as  if  she  knew  that  her  rider 
carried  the  fate  of  all  Germany  beneath  the  but- 
tons of  his  pelisse.  And  I — I  had  long  borne  the 
name  of  being  the  best  horseman  in  the  six  bri- 
gades of  light  cavalry,  but  I  never  rode  as  I  rode 
then.  My  friend  the  Bart,  has  told  me  of  how 
they  hunt  the  fox  in  England,  but  the  swiftest 
fox  would  have    been    captured    by  me  that  day. 


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HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  243 

The  wild  pigeons  which  flew  overhead  did  not 
take  a  straighter  course  than  Violette  and  I  be- 
low. As  an  officer,  I  have  always  been  ready  to 
sacrifice  myself  for  my  men,  though  the  Emperor 
would  not   have   thanked    me   for  it,  for  he    had 

many  men,  but  only  one well,  cavalry  leaders 

of  the  first  class  are  rare. 

But  here  I  had  an  object  which  w^as  indeed 
worth  a  sacrifice,  and  I  thought  no  more  of  my 
life  than  of  the  clods  of  earth  that  flew  from  my 
darling's  heels. 

We  struck  the  road  once  more  as  the  light  was 
failing,  and  galloped  into  the  little  village  of  Lo- 
benstein.  But  we  had  hardly  got  upon  the  cobble- 
stones when  off  came  one  of  the  mare's  shoes,  and 
I  had  to  lead  her  to  the  village  smithy.  His  fire 
was  low,  and  his  day's  work  done,  so  that  it 
would  be  an  hour  at  the  least  before  I  could  hope 
to  push  on  to  Hof.  Cursing  at  the  delay,  I  strode 
into  the  village  inn  and  ordered  a  cold  chicken 
and  some  wine  to  be  served  for  my  dinner.  It 
was  but  a  few  more  miles  to  Hof,  and  I  had  every 
hope  that  I  might  deliver  my  papers  to  the  Prince 
on  that  very  night,  and  be  on  my  way  for  France 
next    morning    with    despatches  for  the    Emperor 


244       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

in  my  bosom.  I  will  tell  you  now  what  befell 
me  in  the  inn  of  Lobenstein. 

The  chicken  had  been  served  and  the  wine 
drawn,  and  I  had  turned  upon  both  as  a  man  may 
who  has  ridden  such  a  ride,  when  I  was  aware 
of  a  murmur  and  a  scuffling  in  the  hall  outside 
my  door.  At  first  I  thought  that  it  was  some 
brawl  between  peasants  in  their  cups,  and  I  left 
them  to  settle  their  own  affairs. 

But  of  a  sudden  there  broke  from  among  the 
low,  sullen  growl  of  the  voices  such  a  sound  as 
would  send  Etienne  Gerard  leaping  from  his  death- 
bed. It  was  the  whimpering  cry  of  a  woman  in 
pain.  Down  clattered  my  knife  and  my  fork,  and 
in  an  instant  I  was  in  the  thick  of  the  crowd  which 
had  gathered  outside  my  door. 

The  heavy-cheeked  landlord  was  there  and  his 
flaxen-haired  wife,  the  two  men  from  the  stables, 
a  chambermaid,  and  two  or  three  villagers.  All  of 
them,  women  and  men,  were  flushed  and  angry, 
while  there  in  the  centre  of  them,  with  pale  cheeks 
and  terror  in  her  eyes,  stood  the  loveliest  woman 
that  ever  a  soldier  would  wish  to  look  upon. 
With  her  queenly  head  thrown  back,  and  a  touch 
of  defiance  mingled  with    her  fear,  she  looked  as 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  245 

she  gazed  round  her  like  a  creature  of  a  different 
race  from  the  vile,  coarse- featured  crew  who  sur- 
rounded her.  I  had  not  taken  two  steps  from  my 
door  before  she  sprang  to  meet  me,  her  hand 
resting  upon  my  arm  and  her  blue  eyes  sparkling 
with  joy  and  triumph. 

"  A  French  soldier  and  gentleman  !  "  she  cried. 
**  Now  at  last  I  am  safe." 

"  Yes,  madam,  you  are  safe,"  said  I,  and  I 
could  not  resist  taking  her  hand  in  mine  in  order 
that  I  might  reassure  her.  "  You  have  only  to 
command  me,"  I  added,  kissing  the  hand  as  a 
sign  that  I  meant  what  I  was  saying. 

"  I  am  Polish,"  she  cried  ;  ''  the  Countess  Pa- 
lotta  is  my  name.  They  abuse  me  because  I  love 
the  French.  I  do  not  know  what  they  might 
have  done  to  me  had  Heaven  not  sent  you  to  my 
help." 

I  kissed  her  hand  again  lest  she  should  doubt 
my  intentions.  Then  I  turned  upon  the  crew 
with  such  an  expression  as  I  know  how  to  assume. 
In  an  instant  the  hall  was  empty. 

"  Countess,"  said  I,  "  you  are  now  under  my 
protection.  You  are  faint,  and  a  glass  of  wine  is 
necessary  to  restore  you."     I  offered  her  my  arm 


246       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

and  escorted  her  into  my  room,  where  she  sat  by 
my  side  at  the  table  and  took  the  refreshment 
which  I  offered  her. 

How  she  blossomed  out  in  my  presence,  this 
woman,  like  a  flower  before  the  sun !  She  lit  up 
the  room  with  her  beauty.  She  must  have  read 
my  admiration  in  my  eyes,  and  it  seemed  to  me 
that  I  also  could  see  something  of  the  sort  in  her 
own.  Ah  !  my  friends,  I  was  no  ordinary  looking" 
man  when  I  was  in  my  thirtieth  year.  In  the 
whole  light  cavalry  it  would  have  been  hard  to 
find  a  finer  pair  of  whiskers.  Murat's  may  have 
been  a  shade  longer,  but  the  best  judges  are 
agreed  that  Murat's  were  a  shade  too  long. 
And  then  I  had  a  manner.  Some  women  are  to 
be  approached  in  one  way  and  some  in  another, 
just  as  a  siege  is  an  affair  of  fascines  and  gabions 
in  hard  weather  and  of  trenches  in  soft.  But  the 
man  who  can  mix  daring  with  timidity,  who  can 
be  outrageous  with  an  air  of  humility  and  pre- 
sumptuous with  a  tone  of  deference,  that  is  the 
man  whom  mothers  have  to  fear.  For  myself,  I 
felt  that  I  was  the  guardian  of  this  lonely  lady, 
and  knowing  what  a  dangerous  man  I  had  to 
deal  with,  I  kept  strict  watch  upon  myself.     Still, 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  247 

even  a  guardian  has  his  privileges,  and  I  did  not 
neglect  them. 

But  her  talk  was  as  charming  as  her  face.  In 
a  few  words  she  explained  that  she  was  travelling 
to  Poland,  and  that  her  brother  who  had  been  her 
escort  had  fallen  ill  upon  the  way.  She  had  more 
than  once  met  with  ill-treatment  from  the  country 
folk  because  she  could  not  conceal  her  good-will 
towards  the  French.  Then  turning  from  her  own 
affairs  she  questioned  me  about  the  army,  and  so 
came  round  to  myself  and  my  own  exploits.  They 
were  familiar  to  her,  she  said,  for  she  knew  several 
of  Poniatowski's  officers,  and  they  had  spoken  of 
my  doings.  Yet  she  would  be  glad  to  hear  them 
from  my  own  lips.  Never  have  I  had  so  delight- 
ful a  conversation.  Most  women  make  the  mis- 
take of  talking  rather  too  much  about  their  own 
affairs,  but  this  one  listened  to  my  tales  just  as 
you  are  listening  now,  ever  asking  for  more  and 
more  and  more.  The  hours  slipped  rapidly  by, 
and  it  was  with  horror  that  I  heard  the  village 
clock  strike  eleven,  and  so  learned  that  for  four 
hours  I  had  forgotten  the  Emperor's  business. 

"  Pardon  me,  my  dear  lady,"  I  cried,  springing 
to  my  feet,  '*  but  I  must  on  instantly  to  Hof." 


248       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

She  rose  also,  and  looked  at  me  with  a  pale, 
reproachful  face.  "  And  me  ?  "  she  said.  "  What 
is  to  become  of  me  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  Emperor's  affair.  I  have  already- 
stayed  far  too  long.  My  duty  calls  me  and  I 
must  go." 

"  You  must  go  ?  And  I  must  be  abandoned 
alone  to  these  savages  ?  Oh,  why  did  I  ever 
meet  you  !  Why  did  you  ever  teach  me  to  rely 
upon  your  strength  ? "  Her  eyes  glazed  over, 
and  in  an  instant  she  was  sobbing  upon  my 
bosom. 

Here  was  a  trying  moment  for  a  guardian  ! 
Here  was  a  time  when  he  had  to  keep  a  watch 
upon  a  forward  young  officer.  But  I  was  equal 
to  it.  I  smoothed  her  rich  brown  hair  and  whis- 
pered such  consolations  as  I  could  think  of  in 
her  ear,  with  one  arm  round  her,  it  is  true,  but 
that  was  to  hold  her  lest  she  should  faint.  She 
turned  her  tear-stained  face  to  mine.  "  Water," 
she  whispered.     "  For  God's  sake,  water  !  " 

I  saw  that  in  another  moment  she  would  be 
senseless.  I  laid  the  drooping  head  upon  the 
sofa,  and  then  rushed  furiously  from  the  room, 
hunting  from  chamber    to  chamber   for  a  carafe. 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  249 

It  was  some  minutes  before  I  could  get  one  and 
hurry  back  with  it.  You  can  imagine  my  feelings 
to  find  the  room  empty  and  the  lady  gone. 

Not  only  was  she  gone,  but  her  cap  and  silver- 
mounted  riding  switch  which  had  lain  upon  the 
table  were  gone  also.  I  rushed  out  and  roared 
for  the  landlord.  He  knew  nothing  of  the  matter, 
had  never  seen  the  woman  before,  and  did  not 
care  if  he  never  saw  her  again.  Had  the  peas- 
ants at  the  door  seen  anyone  ride  away?  No, 
they  had  seen  nobody.  I  searched  here  and 
searched  there,  until  at  last  I  chanced  to  find 
myself  in  front  of  a  mirror,  where  I  stood  with 
my  eyes  staring  and  my  jaw  as  far  dropped  as  the 
chin-strap  of  my  shako  would  allow. 

Four  buttons  of  my  pelisse  were  open,  and  it 
did  not  need  me  to  put  my  hand  up  to  know 
that  my  precious  papers  were  gone.  Oh  !  the 
depth  of  cunning  that  lurks  in  a  woman's  heart. 
She  had  robbed  me,  this  creature,  robbed  me 
as  she  clung  to  my  breast.  Even  while  I 
smoothed  her  hair  and  whispered  kind  words 
into  her  ear,  her  hands  had  been  at  work  beneath 
my  dolman.  And  here  I  was  at  the  very  last  step 
of  my  journey,  without  the  power  of  carrying  out 


250      THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

this  mission  which  had  already  deprived  one  good 
man  of  his  life,  and  was  likely  to  rob  another  one 
of  his  credit.  What  would  the  Emperor  say  when 
he  heard  that  I  had  lost  his  despatches?  Would 
the  army  believe  it  of  Etienne  Gerard  ?  And 
when  they  heard  that  a  woman's  hand  had  coaxed 
them  from  me,  what  laughter  there  would  be  at 
mess-table  and  at  camp-fire!  I  could  have  rolled 
upon  the  ground  in  my  despair. 

But  one  thing  was  certain — all  this  affair  of 
the  fracas  in  the  hall  and  the  persecution  of  the 
so-called  Countess  was  a  piece  of  acting  from  the 
beginning.  This  villainous  innkeeper  must  be  in 
the  plot.  From  him  I  might  learn  who  she  was 
and  where  my  papers  had  gone.  I  snatched  my 
sabre  from  the  table  and  rushed  out  in  search  of 
him.  But  the  scoundrel  had  guessed  what  I 
would  do,  and  had  made  his  preparations  for  me. 
It  was  in  the  corner  of  the  yard  that  I  found  him, 
a  blunderbuss  in  his  hands  and  a  mastiff  held 
upon  a  leash  by  his  son.  The  two  stable-hands, 
with  pitchforks,  stood  upon  each  side,  and  the 
wife  held  a  great  lantern  behind  him  so  as  to 
guide  his  aim. 

"  Ride   away,  sir,  ride    away ! "  he  cried,  with 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  25 1 

a  crackling  voice.  "  Your  horse  is  at  the  door, 
and  no  one  will  meddle  with  you  if  you  go  your 
way ;  but  if  you  come  against  us,  you  are  alone 
against  three  brave  men." 

I  had  only  the  dog  to  fear,  for  the  two  forks 
and  the  blunderbuss  were  shaking  about  like 
branches  in  a  wind.  Still,  I  considered  that, 
though  I  might  force  an  answer  with  my  sword- 
point  at  the  throat  of  this  fat  rascal,  still  I  should 
have  no  means  of  knowing  whether  that  answer 
was  the  truth.  It  would  be  a  struggle,  then,  with 
much  to  lose  and  nothing  certain  to  gain.  I  looked 
them  up  and  down,  therefore,  in  a  way  that  set  their 
foolish  weapons  shaking  worse  than  ever,  and 
then,  throwing  myself  upon  my  mare,  I  galloped 
away  with  the  shrill  laughter  of  the  landlady 
jarring  upon  my  ears. 

I  had  already  formed  my  resolution.  Although 
I  had  lost  my  papers,  I  could  make  a  very  good 
guess  as  to  what  their  contents  would  be,  and 
this  I  would  say  from  my  own  lips  to  the  Prince 
of  Saxe-Felstein,  as  though  the  Emperor  had  com- 
missioned me  to  convey  it  in  that  way.  It  was 
a  bold  stroke  and  a  dangerous  one,  but  if  I  went 

too  far  I  could  afterwards  be  disavowed.     It  was 
17 


252       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

that  or  nothing,  and  when  all  Germany  hung  on 
the  balance  the  game  should  not  be  lost  if  the 
nerve  of  one  man  could  save  it. 

It  was  midnight  when  I  rode  into  Hof,  but 
every  window  was  blazing,  which  was  enough  in 
itself,  in  that  sleepy  country,  to  tell  the  ferment 
of  excitement  in  which  the  people  were.  There 
was  hooting  and  jeering  as  I  rode  through  the 
crowded  streets,  and  once  a  stone  sang  past  my 
head,  but  I  kept  upon  my  way,  neither  slowing 
nor  quickening  my  pace,  until  I  came  to  the  pal- 
ace. It  was  lit  from  base  to  battlement,  and  the 
dark  shadows,  coming  and  going  against  the 
yellow  glare,  spoke  of  the  turmoil  within.  For 
my  part,  I  handed  my  mare  to  a  groom  at  the 
gate,  and  striding  in  I  demanded,  in  such  a  voice 
as  an  ambassador  should  have,  to  see  the  Prince 
instantly  upon  business  which  would  brook  no 
delay. 

The  hall  was  dark,  but  I  was  conscious  as  I 
entered  of  a  buzz  of  innumerable  voices  which 
hushed  into  silence  as  I  loudly  proclaimed  my 
mission.  Some  great  meeting  was  being  held 
then— a  meeting  which,  as  my  instincts  told  me, 
was  to  decide  this  very  question  of  war  and  peace. 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  253 

It  was  possible  that  I  might  still  be  in  time  to 
turn  the  scale  for  the  Emperor  and  for  France. 
As  to  the  major-domo,  he  looked  blackly  at  me, 
and  showing  me  into  a  small  ante-chamber  he 
left  me.  A  minute  later  he  returned  to  say  that 
the  Prince  could  not  be  disturbed  at  present,  but 
that  the  Princess  would  take  my  message. 

The  Princess  !  What  use  was  there  in  giving 
it  to  her?  Had  I  not  been  warned  that  she  was 
German  in  heart  and  soul,  and  that  it  was  she 
who  was  turning  her  husband  and  her  State 
against  us? 

"  It  is  the  Prince  that  I  must  see,"  said  I. 

"  Nay,  it  is  the  Princess,"  said  a  voice  at  the 
door,  and  a  woman  swept  into  the  chamber. 
*'  Von  Rosen,  you  had  best  stay  with  us.  Now, 
sir,  what  is  it  that  you  have  to  say  to  either  Prince 
or  Princess  of  Saxe-Felstein  ?  " 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  voice  I  had  sprung 
to  my  feet.  At  the  first  glance  I  had  thrilled 
with  anger.  Not  twice  in  a  lifetime  does  one 
meet  that  noble  figure,  that  queenly  head,  those 
eyes  as  blue  as  the  Garonne,  and  as  chilling  as 
her  winter  waters? 

"  Time  presses,  sir !  "  she  cried,  with  an  impa- 


254       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

tient  tap  of  her  foot.     *'  What  have  you  to  say  to 
me?" 

"  What  have  I  to  say  to  you?"  I  cried.  "  What 
can  I  say,  save  that  you  have  taught  me  never 
to  trust  a  woman  more?  You  have  ruined  and 
dishonoured  me  for  ever." 

She  looked  with  arched  brows  at  her  at- 
tendant. 

''  Is  this  the  raving  of  fever,  or  does  it  come 
from  some  less  innocent  cause  ?  "  said  she.  "  Per- 
haps a  little  blood-letting " 

"  Ah,  you  can  act !  "  I  cried.  "  You  have  shown 
me  that  already." 

*' Do  you  mean  that  we  have  met  before?" 

"  I  mean  that  you  have  robbed  me  within  the 
last  two  hours." 

**  This  is  past  all  bearing,"  she  cried,  with  an 
admirable  affectation  of  anger.  "You  claim,  as  I 
understand,  to  be  an  ambassador,  but  there  are 
limits  to  the  privileges  which  such  an  office 
brings  with  it." 

**  You  brazen  it  admirably,"  said  I.  "  Your 
Highness  will  not  make  a  fool  of  me  twice  in  one 
night."  I  sprang  forward  and,  stooping  down, 
caught  up  the  hem    of   her    dress.     **  You  would 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  255 

have  done  well  to  change  it  after  you  had  ridden 
so  far  and  so  fast,"  said  I. 

It  was    like    the   dawn   upon    a    snow-peak   to 
see  her  ivory  cheeks  flush  suddenly  to  crimson. 

"  Insolent !  "  she  cried.     "  Call  the  foresters  and 
have  him  thrust  from  the  palace  ! " 

"  I  will  see  the  Prince  first." 

"  You  will  never  see  the  Prince.     Ah  !      Hold 
him,  Von  Rosen,  hold  him  ! " 

She  had  forgotten  the  man  with  whom  she  had 
to  deal — was  it  likely  that  I  would  wait  until  they 
could  bring  their  rascals?  She  had  shown  me 
her  cards  too  soon.  Her  game  was  to  stand  be- 
tween me  and  her  husband.  Mine  was  to  speak 
face  to  face  with  him  at  any  cost.  One  spring 
took  me  out  of  the  chamber.  In  another  I  had 
crossed  the  hall.  An  instant  later  I  had  burst 
into  the  great  room  from  which  the  murmur  of 
the  meeting  had  come.  At  the  far  end  I  saw  a 
figure  upon  a  high  chair  under  a  dais.  Beneath 
him  was  a  line  of  high  dignitaries,  and  then  on 
every  side  I  saw  vaguely  the  heads  of  a  vast  assem- 
bly. Into  the  centre  of  the  room  I  strode,  my 
sabre  clanking,  my  shako  under  my  arm. 

"I    am    the    messenger    of    the    Emperor,"    I 


256       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

shouted.      "  I    bear  his    message    to  his   Highness 
the  Prince  of  Saxe-Felstein." 

The  man  beneath  the  dais  raised  his  head,  and 
I  saw  that  his  face  was  thin  and  wan,  and  that 
his  back  was  bowed  as  though  some  huge  burden 
was  balanced  between  his  shoulders. 

"  Your  name,  sir  ? "  he  asked. 

"  Colonel  Etienne  Gerard,  of  the  Third  Hus- 
sars." 

Every  face  in  the  gathering  was  turned  upon 
me,  and  I  heard  the  rustle  of  the  innumerable  necks 
and  saw  countless  eyes  without  meeting  one  friend- 
ly one  amongst  them.  The  woman  had  swept 
past  me,  and  was  whispering,  with  many  shakes 
of  her  head  and  dartings  of  her  hands,  into  the 
Prince's  ear.  For  my  own  part  I  threw  out  my 
chest  and  curled  my  moustache,  glancing  round 
in  my  own  debonair  fashion  at  the  assembly. 
They  were  men,  all  of  them,  professors  from  the 
college,  a  sprinkling  of  their  students,  soldiers, 
gentlemen,  artisans,  all  very  silent  and  serious. 
In  one  corner  there  sat  a  group  of  men  in  black, 
with  riding-coats  drawn  over  their  shoulders. 
They  leaned  their  heads  to  each  other,  whisper- 
ing under  their  breath,  and  with  every  movement 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  257 

I  caught  the  clank  of  their  sabres  or  the  clink 
of  their  spurs. 

''  The  Emperor's  private  letter  to  me  informs 
me  that  it  is  the  Marquis  Chateau  St.  Arnaud 
who  is  bearing  his  despatches,"  said  the  Prince. 

"  The  Marquis  has  been  foully  murdered,"  I 
answered,  and  a  buzz  rose  up  from  the  people  as 
I  spoke.  Many  heads  were  turned,  I  noticed,  to- 
wards the  dark  men  in  the  cloaks. 

**  Where  are  your  papers  ?  "  asked  the  Prince. 

"  I  have  none." 

A  fierce  clamour  rose  instantly  around  me. 
**  He  is  a  spy  !  He  plays  a  part !  "  they  cried. 
"  Hang  him  !  "  roared  a  deep  voice  from  the  cor- 
ner, and  a  dozen  others  took  up  the  shout.  For 
my  part,  I  drew  out  my  handkerchief  and  flicked 
the  dust  from  the  fur  of  my  pelisse.  The  Prince 
held  out  his  thin  hands,  and  the  tumult  died  away. 

•*  Where,  then,  are  your  credentials,  and  what 
is  your  message  ?  " 

"  My  uniform  is  my  credential,  and  my  mes- 
sage is  for  your  private  ear." 

He  passed  his  hand  over  his  forehead  with  the 
gesture  of  a  weak  man  who  is  at  his  wits*  end  what 
to  do.      The  Princess  stood  beside  him  with  her 


258        THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

hand  upon  his  throne,  and  again  whispered  in 
his  ear. 

"  We  are  here  in  council  together,  some  of 
my  trusty  subjects  and  myself,"  said  he.  "  I  have 
no  secrets  from  them,  and  whatever  message  the 
Emperor  may  send  to  me  at  such  a  time  concerns 
their  interests  no  less  than  mine." 

There  was  a  hum  of  applause  at  this,  and  every 
eye  was  turned  once  more  upon  me.  My  faith,  it 
was  an  awkward  position  in  which  I  found  myself, 
for  it  is  one  thing  to  address  eight  hundred  hus- 
sars, and  another  to  speak  to  such  an  audience  on 
such  a  subject.  But  I  fixed  my  eyes  upon  the 
Prince,  and  tried  to  say  just  what  I  should  have 
said  if  we  had  been  alone,  shouting  it  out,  too,  as 
though  I  had  my  regiment  on  parade. 

"  You  have  often  expressed  friendship  for  the 
Emperor,"  I  cried.  "  It  is  now  at  last  that  this 
friendship  is  about  to  be  tried.  If  you  will  stand 
firm,  he  will  reward  you  as  only  he  can  reward. 
It  is  an  easy  thing  for  him  to  turn  a  Prince  into  a 
King  and  a  province  into  a  power.  His  eyes  are 
fixed  upon  you,  and  though  you  can  do  little  to 
harm  him,  you  can  ruin  yourself.  At  this  mo- 
ment he  is  crossing  the  Rhine  with  two  hundred 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  259 

thousand  men.  Every  fortress  in  the  country  is 
in  his  hands.  He  will  be  upon  you  in  a  week, 
and  if  you  have  played  him  false,  God  help  both 
you  and  your  people.  You  think  that  he  is  weak- 
ened because  a  few  of  us  got  the  chilblains  last 
winter.  Look  there  !  **  I  cried,  pointing  to  a  great 
star  which  blazed  through  the  window  above  the 
Prince's  head.  ''  That  is  the  Emperor's  star. 
When  it  wanes,  he  will  wane — but  not  before." 

You  would  have  been  proud  of  me,  my  friends, 
if  you  could  have  seen  and  heard  me,  for  I  clashed 
my  sabre  as  I  spoke,  and  swung  my  dolman  as 
though  my  regiment  was  picketed  outside  in  the 
courtyard.  They  listened  to  me  in  silence,  but 
the  back  of  the  Prince  bowed  more  and  more  as 
though  the  burden  which  weighed  upon  it  was 
greater  than  his  strength.  He  looked  round  with 
haggard  eyes. 

"  We  have  heard  a  Frenchman  speak  for 
France,"  said  he.  "  Let  us  have  a  German  speak 
for  Germany." 

The  folk  glanced  at  each  other,  and  whis- 
pered to  their  neighbours.  My  speech,  as  I  think, 
had  its  effect,  and  no  man  wished  to  be  the  first 
to  commit   himself  in   the  eyes   of   the  Emperor. 


26o       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

The  Princess  looked  round  her  with  blazing  eyes, 
and  her  clear  voice  broke  the  silence. 

"  Is  a  woman  to  give  this  Frenchman  his 
answer  ?  "  she  cried.  *'  Is  it  possible,  then,  that 
among  the  night-riders  of  Lutzow  there  is  none 
who  can  use  his  tongue  as  well  as  his  sabre  ?  " 

Over  went  a  table  with  a  crash,  and  a  young 
man  had  bounded  upon  one  of  the  chairs.  He 
had  the  face  of  one  inspired — pale,  eager,  with 
wild  hawk  eyes,  and  tangled  hair.  His  sword 
hung  straight  from  his  side,  and  his  riding-boots 
were  brown  with  mire. 

"  It  is  Korner ! "  the  people  cried.  **  It  is 
young  Korner,  the  poet !  Ah,  he  will  sing,  he 
will  sing." 

And  he  sang !  It  was  soft,  at  first,  and  dreamy, 
telling  of  old  Germany,  the  mother  of  nations,  of 
the  rich,  warm  plains,  and  the  grey  cities,  and  the 
fame  of  dead  heroes.  But  then  verse  after  verse 
ran  like  a  trumpet-call.  It  was  of  the  Germany 
of  now,  the  Germany  which  had  been  taken  un- 
awares and  overthrown,  but  which  was  up  again, 
and  snapping  the  bonds  upon  her  giant  limbs. 
What  was  life  that  one  should  covet  it?  What 
was  glorious  death  that  one  should  shun  it  ?    The 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  261 

mother,  the  great  mother,  was  calling.  Her  sigh 
was  in  the  night  wind.  She  was  crying  to  her 
own  children  for  help.  Would  they  come  ? 
Would  they  come  ?     Would  they  come  ? 

Ah,  that  terrible  song,  the  spirit  face  and  the 
ringing  voice  !  Where  were  I,  and  France  and 
the  Emperor  ?  They  did  not  shout,  these  people 
— they  howled.  They  were  up  on  the  chairs  and 
the  tables.  They  were  raving,  sobbing,  the  tears 
running  down  their  faces.  Korner  had  sprung 
from  the  chair,  and  his  comrades  were  round  him, 
with  their  sabres  in  the  air.  A  flush  had  come 
into  the  pale  face  of  the  Prince,  and  he  rose  from 
his  throne. 

"  Colonel  Gerard,"  said  he,  "  you  have  heard 
the  answer  which  you  are  to  carry  to  your  Em- 
peror. The  die  is  cast,  my  children.  Your  Prince 
and  you  must  stand  or  fall  together." 

He  bowed  to  show  that  all  was  over,  and  the 
people  with  a  shout  made  for  the  door  to  carry 
the  tidings  into  the  town.  For  my  own  part,  I 
had  done  all  that  a  brave  man  might,  and  so  I 
was  not  sorry  to  be  carried  out  amid  the  stream. 
Why  should  I  linger  in  the  palace  ?  I  had  had 
my  answer  and  must  carry  it,  such  as  it  was.     I 


262       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

wished  neither  to  see  Hof  nor  its  people  again 
until  I  entered  it  at  the  head  of  a  vanguard.  I 
turned  from  the  throng,  then,  and  walked  silently 
and  sadly  in  the  direction  in  which  they  had  led 
the  mare. 

It  was  dark  down  there  by  the  stables,  and  I 
was  peering  round  for  the  hostler,  when  suddenly 
my  two  arms  were  seized  from  behind.  There 
were  hands  at  my  wrists  and  at  my  throat,  and  I 
felt  the  cold  muzzle  of  a  pistol  under  my  ear. 

*'  Keep  your  lips  closed,  you  French  dog," 
whispered  a  fierce  voice.  **  We  have  him,  cap- 
tain." 

"  Have  you  the  bridle  ?  " 

"  Here  it  is." 

"  Sling  it  over  his  head." 

I  felt  the  cold  coil  of  leather  tighten  round 
my  neck.  An  hostler  with  a  stable  lantern  had 
come  out  and  was  gazing  upon  the  scene.  In  its 
dim  light  I  saw  stern  faces  breaking  everywhere 
through  the  gloom,  with  the  black  caps  and  dark 
cloaks  of  the  night-riders. 

"  What  would  you  do  with  him,  captain  ?  '* 
cried  a  voice. 

"  Hang  him  at  the  Palace  Gate." 


now  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOxM.  263 

"  An  ambassador  ?  " 

"Yes,  an  ambassador  without  papers." 

"  But  the  Prince  ?  " 

"  Tut,  man,  do  you  not  see  that  the  Prince 
will  then  be  committed  to  our  side?  He  will  be 
beyond  all  hope  of  forgiveness.  At  present  he 
may  swing  round  to-morrow  as  he  has  done  be- 
fore. He  may  eat  his  words,  but  a  dead  hussar 
is  more  than  he  can  explain." 

"  No,  no.  Von  Strelitz,  we  cannot  do  it,"  said 
another  voice. 

**  Can  we  not  ?  I  shall  show  you  that ! "  and 
there  came  a  jerk  on  the  bridle  which  nearly 
pulled  me  to  the  ground.  At  the  same  instant  a 
sword  flashed  and  the  leather  was  cut  through 
within  two  inches  of  my  neck. 

'*  By  Heaven,  Korner,  this  is  rank  mutiny," 
cried  the  captain.  "  You  may  hang  yourself  be- 
fore you  are  through  with  it." 

"  I  have  drawn  my  sword  as  a  soldier  and  not 
as  a  brigand,"  said  the  young  poet.  "  Blood  may 
dim  its  blade,  but  never  dishonour.  Comrades, 
will  you  stand  by  and  see  this  French  gentleman 
mishandled  ?  " 

A  dozen  sabres  flew  from  their  sheaths,  and  it 


264       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

was  evident  that  my  friends  and  my  foes  were 
about  equally  balanced.  But  the  angry  voices  and 
the  gleam  of  steel  had  brought  the  folk  running 
from  all  parts. 

"  The  Princess  !  "  they  cried.  "  The  Princess  is 
coming  !  " 

And  even  as  they  spoke  I  saw  her  in  front  of 
us,  her  sweet  face  framed  in  the  darkness.  I  had 
cause  to  hate  her,  for  she  had  cheated  and  be- 
fooled me,  and  yet  it  thrilled  me  then  and  thrills 
me  now  to  think  that  my  arms  have  embraced 
her,  and  that  I  have  felt  the  scent  of  her  hair  in 
my  nostrils.  I  know  not  whether  she  lies  under 
her  German  earth,  or  whether  she  still  lingers,  a 
grey-haired  woman  in  her  Castle  of  Hof,  but  she 
lives  ever,  young  and  lovely,  in  the  heart  and  the 
memory  of  Etienne  Gerard. 

"  For  shame ! "  she  cried,  sweeping  up  to  me, 
and  tearing  with  her  own  hands  the  noose  from 
my  neck.  "  You  are  fighting  in  God*s  own  quar- 
rel, and  yet  you  would  begin  with  such  a  devil's 
deed  as  this.  This  man  is  mine,  and  he  who 
touches  a  hair  of  his  head  will  answer  for  it  to 
me." 

They  were   glad    enough   to  slink   off  into  the 


w^^ 


This  man  is  mine." 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  265 

darkness  before  those  scornful  eyes.  Then  she 
turned  once  more  to  me. 

"  You  can  follow  me,  Colonel  Gerard,"  she  said. 
"  I  have  a  word  that  I  would  speak  to  you." 

I  walked  behind  her  to  the  chamber  into  which 
I  had  originally  been  shown.  She  closed  the  door, 
and  then  looked  at  me  with  the  archest  twinkle 
in  her  eyes. 

"  Is  it  not  confiding  of  me  to  trust  myself  with 
you  ? "  said  she.  **  You  will  remember  that  it  is 
the  Princess  of  Saxe-Felstein  and  not  the  poor 
Countess  Palotta  of  Poland." 

"  Be  the  name  what  it  might,"  I  answered,  "  I 
helped  a  lady  whom  I  believed  to  be  in  distress, 
and  I  have  been  robbed  of  my  papers  and  almost 
of  my  honour  as  a  reward." 

"  Colonel  Gerard,"  said  she,  "  we  have  been 
playing  a  game,  you  and  I,  and  the  stake  was  a 
heavy  one.  You  have  shown  by  delivering  a 
message  which  was  never  given  to  you  that  you 
would  stand  at  nothing  in  the  cause  of  your 
country.  My  heart  is  German  as  yours  is  French, 
and  I  also  would  go  all  lengths,  even  to  deceit 
and  to  theft,  if  at  this  crisis  I  can  help  my  suffer- 
ing fatherland.     You  see  how  frank  I  am." 


266       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  You  tell  me  nothing  that  I  have  not  seen." 
"  But  now  that  the  game  is  played  and  won, 
why  should  we  bear  malice  ?  I  will  say  this,  that 
if  ever  I  were  in  such  a  plight  as  that  which  I  pre- 
tended in  the  inn  of  Lobenstein,  I  should  never 
wish  to  meet  a  more  gallant  protector  or  a  truer- 
hearted  gentleman  than  Colonel  Etienne  Gerard. 
I  had  never  thought  that  I  could  feel  for  a  French- 
man as  I  felt  for  you  when  I  slipped  the  papers 
from  your  breast." 

"  But  you  took  them,  none  the  less." 
"  They  were  necessary  to  me  and  to  Germany. 
I  knew  the  arguments  which  they  contained  and 
the  effect  which  they  would  have  upon  the  Prince. 
If  they  had  reached  him  all  would  have  been 
lost." 

"  Why  should  your  Highness  descend  to  such 
expedients  when  a  score  of  these  brigands,  who 
wished  to  hang  me  at  your  castle  gate,  would  have 
done  the  work  just  as  well?" 

"  They  are  not  brigands,  but  the  best  blood 
of  Germany,"  she  cried,  hotly.  "If  you  have 
been  roughly  used  you  will  remember  the  indig- 
nities to  which  every  German  has  been  subjected, 
from  the  Queen    of    Prussia    downwards.      As    to 


HOW  THE  BRIGADIER  PLAYED  FOR  A  KINGDOM.  267 

why  I  did  not  have  you  waylaid  upon  the  road, 
I  may  say  that  I  had  parties  out  on  all  sides,  and 
that  I  was  waiting  at  Lobenstein  to  hear  of  their 
success.  When  instead  of  their  news  you  your- 
self arrived  I  was  in  despair,  for  there  was  only 
the  one  weak  woman  betwixt  you  and  my  hus- 
band. You  see  the  straits  to  which  I  was  driven 
before  I  used  the  weapon  of  my  sex." 

"  I  confess  that  you  have  conquered  me,  your 
Highness,  and  it  only  remains  for  me  to  leave  you 
in  possession  of  the  field." 

"  But  you  will  take  your  papers  with  you." 
She  held  them  out  to  me  as  she  spoke.  "  The 
Prince  has  crossed  the  Rubicon  now,  and  nothing 
can  bring  him  back.  You  can  return  these  to 
the  Emperor  and  tell  him  that  we  refused  to  re- 
ceive them.  No  one  can  accuse  you  then  of  hav- 
ing lost  your  despatches.  Good-bye,  Colonel  Ge- 
rard, and  the  best  I  can  wish  you  is  that  when  you 
reach  France  you  may  remain  there.  In  a  year's 
time  there  will  be  no  place  for  a  Frenchman  upon 
this  side  of  the  Rhine." 

And  thus  it  was  that  I  played  the  Princess  of 
Saxe-Felstein  with  all  Germany  for  a  stake,  and 
lost  my  game  to  her.     I  had  much  to  think  of  as 

i3 


268       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

I  walked  my  poor,  tired  Violette  along  the  high- 
way which  leads  westward  from  Hof.  But  amid 
all  the  thoughts  there  came  back  to  me  always 
the  proud,  beautiful  face  of  the  German  woman, 
and  the  voice  of  the  soldier-poet  as  he  sang  from 
the  chair.  And  I  understood  then  that  there  was 
something  terrible  in  this  strong,  patient  Germany 
— this  mother  root  of  nations — and  I  saw  that 
such  a  land,  so  old  and  so  beloved,  never  could 
be  conquered.  And  as  I  rode  I  saw  that  the 
dawn  was  breaking,  and  that  the  great  star  at 
which  I  had  pointed  through  the  palace  window 
was  dim  and  pale  in  the  western  sky. 


VII. 

HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON   HIS   MEDAL. 

The  Duke  of  Tarentum,  or  McDonald,  as  his 
old  comrades  prefer  to  call  him,  was,  as  I  could 
perceive,  in  the  vilest  of  tempers.  His  grim 
Scotch  face  was  like  one  of  those  grotesque  door- 
knockers which  one  sees  in  the  Faubourg  St. 
Germain.  We  heard  afterwards  that  the  Emperor 
had  said  in  jest  that  he  would  have  sent  him 
against  Wellington  in  the  South,  but  that  he  was 
afraid  to  trust  him  within  the  sound  of  the  pipes. 
Major  Charpentier  and  I  could  plainly  see  that 
he  was  smouldering  with  anger. 

**  Brigadier  Gerard  of  the  Hussars,"  said  he, 
with  the  air  of  the  corporal  with  the  recruit. 

I  saluted. 

"  Major    Charpentier    of    the     Horse     Gre'na- 

diers." 

My  companion  answered  to  his  name. 
269 


270       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  The  Emperor  has  a  mission  for  you." 

Without  more  ado  he  flung  open  the  door  and 
announced  us. 

I  have  seen  Napoleon  ten  times  on  horseback 
to  once  on  foot,  and  I  think  that  he  does  wisely 
to  show  himself  to  the  troops  in  this  fashion,  for 
he  cuts  a  very  good  figure  in  the  saddle.  As  we 
saw  him  now  he  was  the  shortest  man  out  of  six 
by  a  good  hand's  breadth,  and  yet  I  am  no  very 
big  man  myself,  though  1  ride  quite  heavy  enough 
for  a  hussar.  It  is  evident,  too,  that  his  body  is 
too  long  for  his  legs.  With  his  big,  round  head, 
his  curved  shoulders,  and  his  clean-shaven  face,  he 
is  more  like  a  Professor  at  the  Sorbonne  than  the 
first  soldier  in  France.  Every  man  to  his  taste, 
but  it  seems  to  me  that,  if  I  could  clap  a  pair  of 
fine  light  cavalry  whiskers,  like  my  own,  on  to 
him,  it  would  do  him  no  harm.  He  has  a  firm 
mouth,  however,  and  his  eyes  are  remarkable.  I 
have  seen  them  once  turned  on  me  in  anger,  and 
I  had  rather  ride  at  a  square  on  a  spent  horse 
than  face  them  again.  I  am  not  a  man  who  is 
easily  daunted,  either. 

He  was  standing  at  the  side  of  the  room,  away 
from  the  window,  looking  up  at  a  great  map  of 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     2/ 1 

the  country  which  was  hung  upon  the  wall.  Ber- 
thier  stood  beside  him,  trying  to  look  wise,  and 
just  as  we  entered,  Napoleon  snatched  his  sword 
impatiently  from  him  and  pointed  with  it  on  the 
map.  He  was  talking  fast  and  low,  but  I  heard 
him  say,  "  The  valley  of  the  Meuse,"  and  twice 
he  repeated  "  Berlin."  As  we  entered,  his  aide- 
de-camp  advanced  to  us,  but  the  Emperor  stopped 
him  and  beckoned  us  to  his  side. 

"  You  have  not  yet  received  the  cross  of  hon- 
our, Brigadier  Gerard  ?  "  he  asked. 

I  replied  that  I  had  not,  and  was  about  to  add 
that  it  was  not  for  want  of  having  deserved  it, 
when  he  cut  me  short  in  his  decided  fashion. 

"  And  you.  Major  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  sire." 

"  Then  you  shall  both  have  your  opportunity 
now." 

He  led  us  to  the  great  map  upon  the  wall  and 
placed  the  tip  of  Berthier's  sword  on  Rheims. 

"  I  will  be  frank  with  you,  gentlemen,  as  with 
two  comrades.  You  have  both  been  with  me 
since  Marengo,  I  believe?"  He  had  a  strangely 
pleasant  smile,  which  used  to  light  up  his  pale 
face  with   a   kind   of    cold    sunshine.      "  Here   at 


2/2       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

Rheims  are  our  present  headquarters  on  this  the 
14th  of  March.  Very  good.  Here  is  Paris,  dis- 
tant by  road  a  good  twenty-five  leagues.  Blucher 
lies  to  the  north,  Schwarzenberg  to  the  south." 
He  prodded  at  the  map  with  the  sword  as  he 
spoke. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  the  further  into  the  country 
these  people  march,  the  more  completely  I  shall 
crush  them.  They  are  about  to  advance  upon 
Paris.  Very  good.  Let  them  do  so.  My 
brother,  the  King  of  Spain,  will  be  there  with  a 
hundred  thousand  men.  It  is  to  him  that  I  send 
you.  You  will  hand  him  this  letter,  a  copy  of 
which  I  confide  to  each  of  you.  It  is  to  tell  him 
that  I  am  coming  at  once,  in  two  days'  time,  with 
every  man  and  horse  and  gun  to  his  relief.  I 
must  give  them  forty-eight  hours  to  recover. 
Then  straight  to  Paris !  You  understand  me, 
gentlemen  ?  " 

Ah,  if  I  could  tell  you  the  glow  of  pride 
which  it  gave  me  to  be  taken  into  the  great 
man's  confidence  in  this  way.  As  he  handed 
our  letters  to  us  I  clinked  my  spurs  and  threw 
out  my  chest,  smiling  and  nodding  to  iet  him 
know  that    I  saw  what   he  would    be  after.      He 


lie  handed  our  letters  to  us. 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     2/3 

smiled  also,  and  rested  his  hand  for  a  moment 
upon  the  cape  of  my  dolman.  I  would  have 
given  half  my  arrears  of  pay  if  my  mother  could 
have  seen  me  at  that  instant. 

*'  I  will  show  you  your  route,"  said  he,  turning- 
back  to  the  map.  **  Your  orders  are  to  ride  to- 
gether as  far  as  Bazoches.  You  will  then  sep- 
arate, the  one  making  for  Paris  by  Oulchy  and 
Neuilly,  and  the  other  to  the  north  by  Braine, 
Soissons,  and  Senlis.  Have  you  anything  to  say, 
Brigadier  Gerard  ? " 

I  am  a  rough  soldier,  but  I  have  words  and 
ideas.  I  had  begun  to  speak  about  glory  and  the 
peril  of  France  when  he  cut  me  short. 

"  And  you,  Major  Charpentier  ?  ** 

**  If  we  find  our  route  unsafe,  are  we  at  liberty 
to  choose  another  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Soldiers  do  not  choose,  they  obey.'*  He  in- 
clined his  head  to  show  that  we  were  dismissed, 
and  turned  round  to  Berthier.  I  do  not  know 
what  he  said,  but  I  heard  them  both  laughing. 

Well,  as  you  may  think,  we  lost  little  time  in 
getting  upon  our  way.  In  half  an  hour  we  were 
riding  down  the  High  Street  of  Rheims,  and  it 
struck  twelve  o'clock  as  we  passed  the  cathedral. 


2/4       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

I  had  my  little  grey  mare,  Violette,  the  one  which 
Sebastiani  had  wished  to  buy  after  Dresden.  It  is 
the  fastest  horse  in  the  six  brigades  of  light  cav- 
alry, and  was  only  beaten  by  the  Duke  of  Rovigo's 
racer  from  England.  As  to  Charpentier,  he  had 
the  kind  of  horse  which  a  horse  grenadier  or  a 
cuirassier  would  be  likely  to  ride :  a  back  like  a 
bedstead,  you  understand,  and  legs  like  the  posts. 
He  is  a  hulking  fellow  himself,  so  that  they  looked 
a  singular  pair.  And  yet  in  his  insane  conceit  he 
ogled  the  girls  as  they  waved  their  handkerchiefs 
to  me  from  the  windows,  and  he  twirled  his  uglj 
red  moustache  up  into  his  eyes,  just  as  if  it  were 
to  him  that  their  attention  was  addressed. 

When  we  came  out  of  the  town  we  passed 
through  the  French  camp,  and  then  across  the 
battle-field  of  yesterday,  which  was  still  covered 
both  by  our  own  poor  fellows  and  by  the  Russians. 
But  of  the  two  the  camp  was  the  sadder  sight. 
Our  army  was  thawing  away.  The  Guards  were 
all  right,  though  the  young  guard  was  full  of  con- 
scripts. The  artillery  and  the  heavy  cavalry  were 
also  good  if  there  were  more  of  them,  but  the  in- 
fantry privates  with  their  under-officers  looked  like 
schoolboys  with  their  masters.      And  we   had  no 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     275 

reserves.  When  one  considered  that  there  were 
80,000  Prussians  to  the  north  and  150,000  Russians 
and  Austrians  to  the  south,  it  might  make  even 
the  bravest  man  grave. 

For  my  own  part,  I  confess  that  I  shed  a  tear  * 
until  the  thought  came  that  the  Emperor  was 
still  with  us,  and  that  on  that  very  morning  he 
had  placed  his  hand  upon  my  dolman  and  had 
promised  me  a  medal  of  honour.  This  set  me 
singing,  and  I  spurred  Violette  on,  until  Char- 
pentier  had  to  beg  me  to  have  mercy  on  his  great, 
snorting,  panting  camel.  The  road  was  beaten 
into  paste  and  rutted  two  feet  deep  by  the  artil- 
lery, so  that  he  was  right  in  saying  that  it  was 
not  the  place  for  a  gallop. 

I  have  never  been  very  friendly  with  this 
Charpentier;  and  now  for  twenty  miles  of  the 
way  I  could  not  draw  a  word  from  him.  He  rode 
with  his  brows  puckered  and  his  chin  upon  his 
breast,  like  a  man  who  is  heavy  with  thought. 
More  than  once  I  asked  him  what  was  on  his 
mind,  thinking  that,  perhaps,  with  my  quicker  in- 
telligence I  might  set  the  matter  straight.  His 
answer  always  was  that  it  was  his  mission  of 
which   he  was   thinking,  which   surprised  me,  be- 


276      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

cause,  although  I  had  never  thought  much  of  his 
intelligence,  still  it  seemed  to  me  to  be  impossi- 
ble that  anyone  could  be  puzzled  by  so  simple  and 
soldierly  a  task. 

Well,  we  came  at  last  to  Bazoches,  where  he 
was  to  take  the  southern  road  and  I  the  northern. 
He  half  turned  in  his  saddle  before  he  left  me, 
and  he  looked  at  me  with  a  singular  expression 
of  inquiry  in  his  face. 

"What  do  you  make  of  it,  Brigadier?"  he 
asked. 

"Of  what?" 

"  Of  our  mission." 

"  Surely  it  is  plain  enough." 

"  You  think  so  ?  Why  should  the  Emperor 
tell  us  his  plans?" 

"  Because  he  recognised  our  intelligence." 

My  companion  laughed  in  a  manner  I  found 
annoying. 

"  May  I  ask  what  you  intend  to  do  if  you  find 
these  villages  full  of  Prussians?"  he  asked. 

"I  shall  obey  my  orders." 

"  But  you  will  be  killed." 

"  Very  possibly." 

He    laughed   again,  and    so  offensively   that  I 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     277 

clapped  my  hand  to  my  sword.  But  before  I 
could  tell  him  what  I  thought  of  his  stupidity 
and  rudeness  he  had  wheeled  his  horse,  and  was 
lumbering  away  down  the  other  road.  I  saw  his 
big  fur  cap  vanish  over  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
and  then  I  rode  upon  my  way,  wondering  at  his 
conduct.  From  time  to  time  I  put  my  hand  to 
the  breast  of  my  tunic  and  felt  the  paper  crackle 
beneath  my  fingers.  Ah,  my  precious  paper, 
which  should  be  turned  into  the  little  silver  medal 
for  which  I  had  yearned  so  long.  All  the  way 
from  Braine  to  Sermoise  I  was  thinking  of  what 
my  mother  would  say  when  she  saw  it. 

I  stopped  to  give  Violette  a  meal  at  a  way- 
side auberge  on  the  side  of  a  hill  not  far  from 
Soissons — a  place  surrounded  by  old  oaks,  and 
with  so  mauy  crows  that  one  could  scarce  hear 
one's  own  voice.  It  was  from  the  innkeeper  that 
I  learned  that  Marmont  had  fallen  back  two  days 
before,  and  that  the  Prussians  were  over  the 
Aisne.  An  hour  later,  in  the  fading  light,  I  saw 
two  of  their  vedettes  upon  the  hill  to  the  right, 
and  then,  as  darkness  gathered,  the  heavens  to 
the  north  were  all  glimmering  from  the  lights  of 
a  bivouac. 


278       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

When  I  heard  that  Blucher  had  been  there 
for  two  days,  I  was  much  surprised  that  the  Em- 
peror should  not  have  known  that  the  country 
through  which  he  had  ordered  me  to  carry  my 
precious  letter  was  already  occupied  by  the  ene- 
my. Still,  I  thought  of  the  tone  of  his  voice  when 
he  said  to  Charpentier  that  a  soldier  must  not 
choose,  but  must  obey.  I  should  follow  the  route 
he  had  laid  down  for  me  as  long  as  Violette  could 
move  a  hoof  or  I  a  finger  upon  her  bridle.  All 
the  way  from  Sermoise  to  Soissons,  where  the 
road  dips  up  and  down,  curving  among  fir-woods, 
I  kept  my  pistol  ready  and  my  sword-belt  braced, 
pushing  on  swiftly  where  the  path  was  straight, 
and  then  coming  slowly  round  the  corners  in  the 
way  we  learned  in  Spain. 

When  I  came  to  the  farmhouse  which  lies  to 
the  right  of  the  road  just  after  you  cross  the 
wooden  bridge  over  the  Crise,  near  where  the 
great  statue  of  the  Virgin  stands,  a  woman  cried 
to  me  from  the  field  saying  that  the  Prussians 
were  in  Soissons.  A  small  party  of  their  lancers, 
she  said,  had  come  in  that  very  afternoon,  and  a 
whole  division  was  expected  before  midnight.  I 
did    not  wait    to    hear    the    end    of   her   tale,  but 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     279 

clapped   spurs   into   Violette,  and  in  five   minutes 
was  galloping  her  into  the  town. 

Three  Uhlans  were  at  the  mouth  of  the  main 
street,  their  horses  tethered,  and  they  gossiping 
together,  each  with  a  pipe  as  long  as  my  sabre. 
I  saw  them  well  in  the  light  of  an  open  door,  but 
of  me  they  could  have  seen  only  the  flash  of  Vio- 
lette's  grey  side  and  the  black  flutter  of  my  cloak. 
A  moment  later  I  flew  through  a  stream  of  them 
rushing  from  an  open  gateway.  Violette's  shoul- 
der sent  one  of  them  reeling,  and  I  stabbed  at 
another  but  missed  him.  Pang,  pang,  went  two 
carbines,  but  I  had  flown  round  the  curve  of  the 
street  and  never  so  much  as  heard  the  hiss  of 
the  balls.  Ah,  we  were  great,  both  Violette  and 
I.  She  lay  down  to  it  like  a  coursed  hare,  the 
fire  flying  from  her  hoofs.  I  stood  in  my  stirrups 
and  brandished  my  sword.  Someone  sprang  for 
my  bridle.  I  sliced  him  through  the  arm,  and  I 
heard  him  howling  behind  me.  Two  horsemen 
closed  upon  me.  I  cut  one  down  and  outpaced 
the  other.  A  minute  later  I  was  clear  of  the  town 
and  flying  down  a  broad  white  road  with  the 
black  poplars  on  either  side.  For  a  time  I  heard 
the  rattle  of  hoofs  behind  me,  but  they  died  and 


280       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

died  until  I  could  not  tell  them  from  the  throb- 
bing of  my  own  heart.  Soon  I  pulled  up  and  lis- 
tened, but  all  was  silent.  They  had  given  up  the 
chase. 

Well,  the  first  thing  that  I  did  was  to  dismount 
and  to  lead  my  mare  into  a  small  wood  through 
which  a  stream  ran.  There  I  watered  her  and 
rubbed  her  down,  giving  her  two  pieces  of  sugar 
soaked  in  cognac  from  my  flask.  She  was  spent 
from  the  sharp  chase,  but  it  was  wonderful  to 
see  how  she  came  round  with  a  half-hour's  rest. 
When  my  thighs  closed  upon  her  again,  I  could 
tell  by  the  spring  and  the  swing  of  her  that  it 
would  not  be  her  fault  if  I  did  not  win  my  way 
safe  to  Paris. 

I  must  have  been  well  within  the  enemy's  lines 
now,  for  I  heard  a  number  of  them  shouting  one 
of  their  rough  drinking  songs  out  of  a  house  by 
the  roadside,  and  I  went  round  by  the  fields  to 
avoid  it.  At  another  time  two  men  came  out 
into  the  moonlight  (for  by  this  time  it  was  a  cloud- 
less night)  and  shouted  something  in  German ; 
but  I  galloped  on  without  heeding  them,  and  they 
were  afraid  to  fire,  for  their  own  hussars  are 
dressed  exactly  as  I  was.      It  is  best  to  take  .no 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     28 1 

notice  at  these  times,  and  then  they  put  you  down 
as  a  deaf  man. 

It  was  a  lovely  moon,  and  every  tree  threw  a 
black  bar  across  the  road.  I  could  see  the  coun- 
try side  just  as  if  it  were  daytime,  and  very 
peaceful  it  looked,  save  that  there  was  a  great 
fire  raging  somewhere  in  the  north.  In  the  silence 
of  the  night-time,  and  with  the  knowledge  that 
danger  was  in  front  and  behind  me,  the  sight  of 
that  great  distant  fire  was  very  striking  and  awe- 
some. But  I  am  not  easily  clouded,  for  I  have 
seen  too  many  singular  things,  so  I  hummed  a  tune 
between  my  teeth  and  thought  of  little  Lisette, 
whom  I  might  see  in  Paris.  My  mind  was  full 
of  her  when,  trotting  round  a  corner,  I  came 
straight  upon  half-a-dozen  German  dragoons, 
who  were  sitting  round  a  brushwood  fire  by  the 
roadside. 

I  am  an  excellent  soldier.  I  do  not  say  this 
because  I  am  prejudiced  in  my  own  favour,  but 
because  I  really  am  so.  I  can  weigh  every  chance 
in  a  moment,  and  decide  with  as  much  certainty 
as  though  I  had  brooded  for  a  week.  Now  I 
saw  like  a  flash  that,  come  what  might,  I  should 
be   chased,  and    on   a   horse    which    had    already 


282      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

done  a  long  twelve  leagues.  But  it  was  better  to 
be  chased  onwards  than  to  be  chased  back.  On 
this  moonlit  night,  with  fresh  horses  behind  me, 
I  must  take  my  risk  in  either  case ;  but  if  I  were 
to  shake  them  off,  I  preferred  that  it  should  be 
near  Senlis  than  near  Soissons.  All  this  flashed 
on  me  as  if  by  instinct,  you  understand.  My  eyes 
had  hardly  rested  on  the  bearded  faces  under  the 
brass  helmets  before  my  rowels  had  touched  Vio- 
lette's  side,  and  she  off  with  a  rattle  like  a  pas- 
de-charge.  Oh,  the  shouting  and  rushing  and 
stamping  from  behind  us !  Three  of  them  fired 
and  three  swung  themselves  on  to  their  horses.  A 
bullet  rapped  on  the  crupper  of  my  saddle  with 
a  noise  like  a  stick  on  a  door.  Violette  sprang 
madly  forward,  and  I  thought  she  had  been 
wounded,  but  it  was  only  a  graze  above  the  near 
fore-fetlock.  Ah,  the  dear  little  mare,  how  I  loved 
her  when  I  felt  her  settle  down  into  that  long, 
easy  gallop  of  hers,  her  hoofs  going  like  a  Span- 
ish girl's  castanets.  I  could  not  hold  myself.  I 
turned  on  my  saddle  and  shouted  and  raved, 
"  Vive  I'Empereur  !  "  I  screamed  and  laughed  at 
the  gust  of  oaths  that  came  back  to  me. 

But  it  was  not  over  yet.     If  she  had  been  fresh 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     283 

she  might  have  gained  a  mile  in  five.  Now  she 
could  only  hold  her  own  with  a  very  little  over. 
There  was  one  of  them,  a  young  boy  of  an  officer, 
who  was  better  mounted  than  the  others.  He 
drew  ahead  with  every  stride.  Two  hundred 
yards  behind  him  were  two  troopers,  but  I  saw 
every  time  that  I  glanced  round,  that  the  dis- 
tance between  them  was  increasing.  The  other 
three  who  had  waited  to  shoot  were  a  long  way 
in  the  rear.  The  officer's  mount  was  a  bay,  a  fine 
horse,  though  not  to  be  spoken  of  with  Violette. 
Yet  it  was  a  powerful  brute,  and  it  seemed  to  me 
that  in  a  few  miles  its  freshness  might  tell.  I 
waited  until  the  lad  was  a  long  way  in  front  of 
his  comrades,  and  then  I  eased  my  mare  down  a 
little — a  very,  very  little,  so  that  he  might  think  he 
was  really  catching  me.  When  he  came  within 
pistol  shot  of  me  I  drew  and  cocked  my  own 
pistol,  and  laid  my  chin  upon  my  shoulder  to  see 
what  he  would  do.  He  did  not  offer  to  fire,  and 
I  soon  discerned  the  cause.  The  silly  boy  had 
taken  his  pistols  from  his  holsters  when  he  had 
camped  for  the  night.  He  wagged  his  sword  at 
me  now  and  roared  some  threat  or  other.     He  did 

not  seem  to  understand  that  he  was  at  my  mercy. 
19 


284       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

I  eased  Violette  down  until  there  was  not  the 
length  of  a  long  lance  between  the  grey  tail  and 
the  bay  muzzle. 

"  Rendez-vous  !  "  he  yelled. 

"  I  must  compliment  monsieur  upon  his 
French,"  said  I,  resting  the  barrel  of  my  pistol 
upon  my  bridle  arm,  which  I  have  always  found 
best  when  shooting  from  the  saddle.  I  aimed  at 
his  face,  and  could  see,  even  in  the  moonlight, 
how  white  he  grew  when  he  understood  that  it 
was  all  up  with  him.  But  even  as  my  finger 
pressed  the  trigger  I  thought  of  his  mother,  and 
I  put  my  ball  through  his  horse's  shoulder.  I 
fear  he  hurt  himself  in  the  fall,  for  it  was  a  fear- 
ful crash,  but  I  had  my  letter  to  think  of,  so  I 
stretched  the  mare  into  a  gallop  once  more. 

But  they  were  not  so  easily  shaken  off,  these 
brigands.  The  two  troopers  thought  no  more  of 
their  young  officer  than  if  he  had  been  a  recruit 
thrown  in  the  riding-school.  They  left  him  to  the 
others  and  thundered  on  after  me.  I  had  pulled 
up  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  thinking  that  I  had  heard 
the  last  of  them  ;  but,  my  faith,  I  soon  saw  there 
was  no  time  for  loitering,  so  away  we  went,  the 
mare  tossing  her  head  and  I  my  busby,  to  show 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     285 

what  we  thought  of  two  dragoons  who  tried  to 
catch  a  hussar.  But  at  this  moment,  even  while 
I  laughed  at  the  thought,  my  heart  stood  still 
within  me,  for  there  at  the  end  of  the  long  white 
road  was  a  black  patch  of  cavalry  waiting  to  re- 
ceive me.  To  a  young  soldier  it  might  have 
seemed  the  shadow  of  the  trees,  but  to  me  it  was 
a  troop  of  hussars,  and,  turn  where  I  could,  death 
seemed  to  be  waiting  for  me. 

Well,  I  had  the  dragoons  behind  me  and  the 
hussars  in  front.  Never  since  Moscow  have  I 
seemed  to  be  in  such  peril.  But  for  the  honour 
of  the  brigade  1  had  rather  be  cut  down  by  a 
light  cavalryman  than  by  a  heavy.  I  never  drew 
bridle,  therefore,  or  hesitated  for  an  instant,  but  I 
let  Violette  have  her  head.  I  remember  that  I 
tried  to  pray  as  I  rode,  but  I  am  a  little  out  of 
practice  at  such  things,  and  the  only  words  I 
could  remember  were  the  prayer  for  fine  weather 
which  we  used  at  the  school  on  the  evening  be- 
fore holidays.  Even  this  seemed  better  than 
nothing,  and  I  was  pattering  it  out,  when  sud- 
denly I  heard  French  voices  in  front  of  me.  Ah, 
mon  Dieu,  but  the  joy  went  through  my  heart 
like   a   musket-ball.      They   were   ours — our   own 


286       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

dear  little  rascals  from  the  corps  of  Marmont. 
Round  whisked  my  two  dragoons  and  galloped 
for  their  lives,  with  the  moon  gleaming  on  their 
brass  helmets,  while  I  trotted  up  to  my  friends 
with  no  undue  haste,  for  I  would  have  them 
understand  that  though  a  hussar  may  fly,  it 
is  not  in  his  nature  to  fly  very  fast.  Yet  I 
fear  that  Yiolette's  heaving  flanks  and  foam- 
spattered  muzzle  gave  the  lie  to  my  careless 
bearing. 

Who  should  be  at  the  head  of  the  troop  but 
old  Bouvet,  whom  I  saved  at  Leipzig !  When  he 
saw  me  his  little  pink  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and, 
indeed,  I  could  not  but  shed  a  few  myself  at  the 
sight  of  his  joy.  I  told  him  of  my  mission,  but 
he  laughed  when  I  said  that  I  must  pass  through 
Senlis. 

"The  enemy  is  there," said  he.     "You  cannot 

gor 

"  I  prefer  to  go  where  the  enemy  is,"  I  an- 
swered. 

"  But  why  not  go  straight  to  Paris  with  your 
despatch  ?  Why  should  you  choose  to  pass 
through  the  one  place  where  you  are  almost  sure 
to  be  taken  or  killed  ?  " 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     28/ 

"A  soldier  does  not  choose — he  obeys,"  said 
I,  just  as  I  had  heard  Napoleon  say  it. 

Old  Bouvet  laughed  in  his  wheezy  way,  until 
I  had  to  give  my  moustachios  a  twirl  and  look 
him  up  and  down  in  a  manner  which  brought  him 
to  reason. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  you  had  best  come  along 
with  us,  for  we  are  all  bound  for  Senlis.  Our 
orders  are  to  reconnoitre  the  place.  A  squadron 
of  Poniatowski's  Polish  lancers  are  in  front  of  us. 
If  you  must  ride  through  it,  it  is  possible  that  we 
may  be  able  to  go  with  you." 

So  away  we  went,  jingling  and  clanking 
through  the  quiet  night  until  we  came  up  with 
the  Poles — fine  old  soldiers  all  of  them,  though 
a  trifle  heavy  for  their  horses.  It  was  a  treat  to 
see  them,  for  they  could  not  have  carried  them- 
selves better  if  they  had  belonged  to  my  own 
brigade.  We  rode  together,  until  in  the  early 
morning  we  saw  the  lights  of  Senlis.  A  peasant 
was  coming  along  with  a  cart,  and  from  him  we 
learned  how  things  were  going  there. 

His  information  was  certain,  for  his  brother 
was  the  Mayor's  coachman,  and  he  had  spoken 
with  him   late   the   night   before.      There   was  a 


288       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

single  squadron  of  Cossacks — or  a  polk,  as  they 
call  it  in  their  frightful  language — quartered  upon 
the  Mayor's  house  which  stands  at  the  corner  of 
the  market-place,  and  is  the  largest  building  in 
the  town.  A  whole  division  of  Prussian  infantry 
was  encamped  in  the  woods  to  the  north,  but  only 
the  Cossacks  were  in  Senlis.  Ah,  what  a  chance 
to  avenge  ourselves  upon  these  barbarians,  whose 
cruelty  to  our  poor  country-folk  was  the  talk  at 
every  camp  fire. 

We  were  into  the  town  like  a  torrent,  hacked 
down  the  vedettes,  rode  over  the  guard,  and  were 
smashing  in  the  doors  of  the  Mayor's  house  before 
they  understood  that  there  was  a  Frenchman  with- 
in twenty  miles  of  them.  We  saw  horrid  heads  at 
the  windows,  heads  bearded  to  the  temples,  with 
tangled  hair  and  sheepskin  caps,  and  silly,  gaping 
mouths.  "  Hourra  !  Hourra  !  "  they  shrieked,  and 
fired  with  their  carbines,  but  our  fellows  were  into 
the  house  and  at  their  throats  before  they  had 
wiped  the  sleep  out  of  their  eyes.  It  was  dread- 
ful to  see  how  the  Poles  flung  themselves  upon 
them,  like  starving  wolves  upon  a  herd  of  fat 
bucks — for,  as  you  know,  the  Poles  have  a  blood 
feud  against  the  Cossacks.    The  most  were  killed 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     289 

in  the  upper  rooms,  whither  they  had  fled  for 
shelter,  and  the  blood  was  pouring  down  into  the 
hall  like  rain  from  a  roof.  They  are  terrible  sol- 
diers, these  Poles,  though  I  think  they  are  a  trifle 
heavy  for  their  horses.  Man  for  man,  they  are  as 
big  as  Kellermann's  cuirassiers.  Their  equipment 
is,  of  course,  much  lighter,  since  they  are  without 
the  cuirass,  back-plate,  and  helmet. 

Well,  it  was  at  this  point  that  I  made  an  error 
— a  very  serious  error  it  must  be  admitted.  Up 
to  this  moment  I  had  carried  out  my  mission  in 
a  manner  which  only  my  modesty  prevents  me 
from  describing  as  remarkable.  But  now  I  did 
that  which  an  official  would  condemn  and  a  sol- 
dier excuse. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  mare  was  spent, 
but  still  it  is  true  that  I  might  have  galloped  on 
through  Senlis  and  reached  the  country,  where 
I  should  have  had  no  enemy  between  me  and 
Paris.  But  what  hussar  can  ride  past  a  fight  and 
never  draw  rein  ?  It  is  to  ask  too  much  of  him. 
Besides,  I  thought  that  if  Violette  had  an  hour 
of  rest  I  might  have  three  hours  the  better  at 
the  other  end.  Then  on  the  top  of  it  came  those 
heads    at   the  windows,  with  their  sheepskin  hats 


290       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

and  their  barbarous  cries.  I  sprang  from  my  sad- 
dle, threw  Violette's  bridle  over  a  rail-post,  and 
ran  into  the  house  with  the  rest.  It  is  true  that 
I  was  too  late  to  be  of  service,  and  that  I  was 
nearly  wounded  by  a  lance-thrust  from  one  of 
these  dying  savages.  Still,  it  is  a  pity  to  miss 
even  the  smallest  affair,  for  one  never  knows  what 
opportunity  for  advancement  may  present  itself. 
I  have  seen  more  soldierly  work  in  outpost  skir- 
mishes and  little  gallop-and-hack  affairs  of  the 
kind  than  in  any  of  the  Emperor's  big  battles. 

When  the  house  was  cleared  1  took  a  bucket 
of  water  out  for  Violette,  and  our  peasant  guide 
showed  me  where  the  good  Mayor  kept  his  fod- 
der. My  faith,  but  the  little  sweetheart  was  ready 
for  it.  Then  I  sponged  down  her  legs,  and  leav- 
ing her  still  tethered  I  went  back  into  the  house 
to  find  a  mouthful  for  myself,  so  that  I  should 
not  need  to  halt  again  until  I  was  in  Paris. 

And  now  I  come  to  the  part  of  my  story 
which  may  seem  singular  to  you,  although  I  could 
tell  you  at  least  ten  things  every  bit  as  queer 
which  have  happened  to  me  in  my  lifetime.  You 
can  understand  that,  to  a  man  who  spends  his 
life  in  scouting  and  vedette  duties  on  the  bloody 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     291 

ground  which  lies  between  two  great  armies,  there 
are  many  chances  of  strange  experiences.  I'll  tell 
you,  however,  exactly  what  occurred. 

Old  Bouvet  was  waiting  in  the  passage  when 
I  entered,  and  he  asked  me  whether  we  might 
not  crack  a  bottle  of  wine  together.  "  My  faith, 
we  must  not  be  long,'*  said  he.  *'  There  are  ten 
thousand  of  Theilmann's  Prussians  in  the  woods 
up  yonder." 

"  Where  is  the  wine  ? "  I  asked. 

"  Ah,  you  may  trust  two  hussars  to  find  where 
the  wine  is,"  said  he,  and  taking  a  candle  in  his 
hand,  he  led  the  way  down  the  stone  stairs  into 
the  kitchen. 

When  we  got  there  we  found  another  door, 
which  opened  on  to  a  winding  stair  with  the  cel- 
lar at  the  bottom.  The  Cossacks  had  been  there 
before  us,  as  was  easily  seen  by  the  broken  bottles 
littered  all  over  it.  However,  the  Mayor  was  a 
bon-vivant,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  have  a  better  set 
of  bins  to  pick  from.  Chambertin,  Graves,  Ali- 
cant,  white  wine  and  red,  sparkling  and  still,  they 
lay  in  pyramids  peeping  coyly  out  of  the  sawdust. 
Old  Bouvet  stood  with  his  candle,  looking  here 
and   peeping   there,  purring   in    his   throat  like  a 


292       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

cat  before  a  milk-pail.  He  had  picked  upon  a 
Burgundy  at  last,  and  had  his  hand  outstretched 
to  the  bottle,  when  there  came  a  roar  of  musketry 
from  ^bove  us,  a  rush  of  feet,  and  such  a  yelping 
and  screaming  as  I  have  never  listened  to.  The 
Prussians  were  upon  us. 

Bouvet  is  a  brave  man;  I  will  say  that  for 
him.  He  leashed  out  his  sword  and  away  he  clat- 
tered up  the  stone  steps,  his  spurs  clinking  as  he 
ran.  I  followed  him,  but  just  as  we  came  out 
into  the  kitchen  passage  a  tremendous  shout  told 
us  that  the  house  had  been  recaptured. 

"  It  is  all  over,"  I  cried,  grasping  at  Bouvet's 
sleeve. 

**  There  is  one  more  to  die,"  he  shouted,  and 
away  he  went  like  a  madman  up  the  second  stair. 
In  effect,  I  should  have  gone  to  my  death  also 
had  I  been  in  his  place,  for  he  had  done  very 
wrong  in  not  throwing  out  his  scouts  to  warn 
him  if  the  Germans  advanced  upon  him.  For  an 
instant  I  was  about  to  rush  up  with  him,  and 
then  I  bethought  myself  that,  after  all,  I  had  my 
own  mission  to  think  of,  and  that  if  I  were  taken 
the  important  letter  of  the  Emperor  would  be 
sacrificed.     I  let  Bouvet  die  alone,  therefore,  and 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     293 

I  went    down    into   the    cellar  again,  closing    the 
door  behind  me. 

Well,  it  was  not  a  very  rosy  prospect  down 
there  either.  Bouvet  had  dropped  the  candle 
when  the  alarm  came,  and  I,  pawing  about  in  the 
darkness,  could  find  nothing  but  broken  bottles. 
At  last  I  came  upon  the  candle,  which  had  rolled 
under  the  curve  of  a  cask,  but,  try  as  I  would 
with  my  tinder-box,  I  could  not  light  it.  The 
reason  was  that  the  wick  had  been  wet  in  a  puddle 
of  wine,  so  suspecting  that  this  might  be  the  case, 
I  cut  the  end  off  with  my  sword.  Then  I  found 
that  it  lighted  easily  enough.  But  what  to  do  1 
could  not  imagine.  The  scoundrels  upstairs  were 
shouting  themselves  hoarse,  several  hundred  of 
them  from  the  sound,  and  it  was  clear  that  some 
of  them  would  soon  want  to  moisten  their  throats. 
There  would  be  an  end  to  a  dashing  soldier,  and  of 
the  mission  and  of  the  medal.  I  thought  of  my 
mother  and  I  thought  of  the  Emperor.  It  made 
me  weep  to  think  that  the  one  would  lose  so  excel- 
lent a  son  and  the  other  the  best  light  cavalry  offi- 
cer he  ever  had  since  Lasalle's  time.  But  presently 
I  dashed  the  tears  from  my  eyes.  "  Courage  !  "  I 
cried,  striking  myself  upon  the  chest.    "  Courage, 


294       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

my  brave  boy  !  Is  it  possible  that  one  who  has 
come  safely  from  Moscow  without  so  much  as  a 
frost-bite  will  die  in  a  French  wine-cellar?"  At 
the  thought  I  was  up  on  my  feet  and  clutching 
at  the  letter  in  my  tunic,  for  the  crackle  of  it  gave 
me  courage. 

My  first  plan  was  to  set  fire  to  the  house,  in 
the  hope  of  escaping  in  the  confusion.  My  sec- 
ond, to  get  into  an  empty  wine-cask.  I  was  look- 
ing round  to  see  if  I  could  find  one,  when  sud- 
denly, in  the  corner,  I  espied  a  little  low  door, 
painted  of  the  same  grey  colour  as  the  wall,  so 
that  it  was  only  a  man  with  quick  sight  who 
would  have  noticed  it.  I  pushed  against  it,  and 
at  first  I  imagined  that  it  was  locked.  Presently, 
however,  it  gave  a  little,  and  then  I  understood 
that  it  was  held  by  the  pressure  of  something  on 
the  other  side.  I  put  my  feet  against  a  hogshead 
of  wine,  and  I  gave  such  a  push  that  the  door 
flew  open  and  I  came  down  with  a  crash  upon 
my  back,  the  candle  flying  out  of  my  hands,  so 
that  I  found  myself  in  darkness  once  more.  I 
picked  myself  up  and  stared  through  the  black 
archway  into  the  gloom  beyond. 

There  was  a  slight  ray  of   light   coming   from 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     295 

some  slit  or  grating.  The  dawn  had  broken  out- 
side, and  I  could  dimly  see  the  long  curving  sides 
of  several  huge  casks,  which  made  me  think  that 
perhaps  this  was  where  the  Mayor  kept  his  re- 
serves of  wine  while  they  were  maturing.  At  any 
rate,  it  seemed  to  be  a  safer  hiding-place  than  the 
outer  cellar,  so  gathering  up  my  candle,  I  was  just 
closing  the  door  behind  me,  when  I  suddenly  saw 
something  which  filled  me  with  amazement,  and 
even,  I  confess,  with  the  smallest  little  touch  of  fear. 
I  have  said  that  at  the  further  end  of  the  cel- 
lar there  was  a  dim  grey  fan  of  light  striking 
downwards  from  somewhere  near  the  roof.  Well, 
as  I  peered  through  the  darkness,  I  suddenly  saw 
a  great,  tall  man  skip  into  this  belt  of  daylight, 
and  then  out  again  into  the  darkness  at  the  fur- 
ther end.  My  word,  I  gave  such  a  start  that 
my  busby  nearly  broke  its  chin-strap !  It  was 
only  a  glance,  but,  none  the  less,  I  had  time  to 
see  that  the  fellow  had  a  hairy  Cossack  cap  on 
his  head,  and  that  he  was  a  great,  long-legged, 
broad-shouldered  brigand,  with  a  sabre  at  his  waist. 
My  faith,  even  Etienne  Gerard  was  a  little  stag- 
gered at  being  left  alone  with  such  a  creature  in 
the  dark. 


296       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

But  only  for  a  moment.  "  Courage ! "  I 
thought.  "  Am  I  not  a  hussar,  a  brigadier,  too, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-one,  and  the  chosen  messenger 
of  the  Emperor  ? "  After  all,  this  skulker  had 
more  cause  to  be  afraid  of  me  than  I  of  him. 
And  then  suddenly  I  understood  that  he  was 
afraid — horribly  afraid.  I  could  read  it  from  his 
quick  step  and  his  bent  shoulders  as  he  ran  among 
the  barrels,  like  a  rat  making  for  its  hole.  And, 
of  course,  it  must  have  been  he  who  had  held 
the  door  against  me,  and  not  some  packing-case 
or  wine-cask  as  I  had  imagined.  He  was  the 
pursued  and  I  the  pursuer.  Aha,  I  felt  my  whisk- 
ers bristle  as  I  advanced  upon  him  through  the 
darkness !  He  would  find  that  he  had  no  chicken 
to  deal  with,  this  robber  from  the  North.  For 
the  moment  I  was  magnificent. 

At  first  I  had  feared  to  light  my  candle  lest  I 
should  make  a  mark  of  myself,  but  now,  after 
cracking  my  shin  over  a  box,  and  catching  my 
spurs  in  some  canvas,  1  thought  the  bolder  course 
the  wiser.  I  lit  it  therefore,  and  then  I  advanced 
with  long  strides,  my  sword  in  my  hand.  "  Come 
out,  you  rascal !  *'  I  cried.  ''  Nothing  can  save 
you.     You  will  at  last  meet  with  your  deserts." 


^^       .1 


■1  -  ^ 


Come  out,  you  rascal  !  " 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     297 

I  held  my  candle  high,  and  presently  I  caught 
a  glimpse  of  a  man's  head  staring  at  me  over  a 
barrel.  He  had  a  gold  chevron  on  his  black  cap, 
and  the  expression  of  his  face  told  me  in  an  in- 
stant that  he  was  an  officer  and  a  man  of  refine- 
ment. 

"  Monsieur,"  he  cried,  in  excellent  French,  "  I 
surrender  myself  on  a  promise  of  quarter.  But  if 
I  do  not  have  your  promise,  I  will  then  sell  my 
life  as  dearly  as  I  can." 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  a  Frenchman  knows  how  to 
treat  an  unfortunate  enemy.  Your  life  is  safe." 
With  that  he  handed  his  sword  over  the  top  of 
the  barrel,  and  I  bowed  with  the  candle  on  my 
heart.  ''Whom  have  I  the  honour  of  capturing?" 
I  asked. 

"  I  am  the  Count  Boutkine,  of  the  Emperor's 
own  Don  Cossacks,"  said  he.  "  I  came  out  with 
my  troop  to  reconnoitre  Senlis,  and  as  we  found 
no  sign  of  your  people  we  determined  to  spend 
the  night  here." 

"  And  would  it  be  an  indiscretion,"  I  asked, 
"  if  I  were  to  inquire  how  you  came  into  the  back 
cellar  ?  " 

"  Nothing  more  simple,"  said  he.     "  It  was  our 


298       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

intention  to  start  at  early  dawn.  Feeling  chilled 
after  dressing,  I  thought  that  a  cup  of  wine  would 
do  me  no  harm,  so  I  came  down  to  see  what  I 
could  find.  As  I  was  rummaging  about,  the  house 
was  suddenly  carried  by  assault  so  rapidly  that  by 
the  time  I  had  climbed  the  stairs  it  was  all  over. 
It  only  remained  for  me  to  save  myself,  so  I  came 
down  here  and  hid  myself  in  the  back  cellar, 
where  you  have  found  me." 

I  thought  of  how  old  Bouvet  had  behaved  under 
the  same  conditions,  and  the  tears  sprang  to  my 
eyes  as  I  contemplated  the  glory  of  France.  Then 
I  had  to  consider  what  I  should  do  next.  It  was 
clear  that  this  Russian  Count,  being  in  the  back 
cellar  while  we  were  in  the  front  one,  had  not 
heard  the  sounds  which  would  have  told  him 
that  the  house  was  once  again  in  the  hands. of 
his  own  allies.  If  he  should  once  understand  this 
the  tables  would  be  turned,  and  I  should  be  his 
prisoner  instead  of  he  being  mine.  What  was  I 
to  do?  I  was  at  my  wits*  end,  when  suddenly 
there  came  to  me  an  idea  so  brilliant  that  I  could 
not  but  be  amazed  at  my  own  invention. 

"  Count  Boutkine,"  said  I,  *'  I  find  myself  in  a 
most  difficult  position." 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     299 

"  And  why  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Because  I  have  promised  you  your  life." 

His  jaw  dropped  a  little. 

"  You  would  not  withdraw  your  promise  ?  **  he 
cried. 

*'  If  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst  I  can  die 
in  your  defence,"  said  I ;  "  but  the  difficulties  are 
great." 

"  What  is  it,  then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  will  be  frank  wath  you,"  said  I.  "  You  must 
know  that  our  fellows,  and  especially  the  Poles, 
are  so  incensed  against  the  Cossacks  that  the  mere 
sight  of  the  uniform  drives  them  mad.  They 
precipitate  themselves  instantly  upon  the  wearer 
and  tear  him  limb  from  limb.  Even  their  officers 
cannot  restrain  them." 

The  Russian  grew  pale  at  my  words  and  the 
way  in  which  I  said  them. 

"  But  this  is  terrible,"  said  he. 

"  Horrible  !  "    said   I.      ''  If  we  were  to  go  up 

together  at  this  moment  I  cannot  promise  how  far 

I  could  protect  you." 

"  I    am   in    your    hands,"    he    cried.      "  What 

would  you  suggest  that  we  should   do  ?      Would 

it  not  be  best  that  I  should  remain  here  ?  " 
20 


300      THE  EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  That  worst  of  all." 

*iAnd  why  ?  " 

*'  Because  our  fellows  will  ransack  the  house 
presently,  and  then  you  would  be  cut  to  pieces. 
No,  no,  I  must  go  up  and  break  it  to  them.  But 
even  then,  when  once  they  see  that  accursed  uni- 
form, I  do  not  know  what  may  happen." 

"  Should  I  then  take  the  uniform  off  ?  " 

"  Excellent !  "  I  cried.  "  Hold,  we  have  it ! 
You  will  take  your  uniform  off  and  put  on  mine. 
That  will  make  you  sacred  to  every  French  sol- 
dier." 

"  It  is  not  the  French  I  fear  so  much  as  the 
Poles." 

"  But  my  uniform  will  be  a  safeguard  against 
either." 

*'  How  can  I  thank  you  ?  "  he  cried.  "  But 
you — what  are  you  to  wear  ?  "  ^ 

**  I  will  wear  yours." 

"  And  perhaps  fall  a  victim  to  your  gener- 
osity ?  " 

"  It  is  my  duty  to  take  the  risk,"  I  answered, 
"  but  I  have  no  fears.  I  will  ascend  in  your  uni- 
form. A  hundred  swords  will  be  turned  upon  me. 
*  Hold  ! '    I  will  shout,  *  I  am    the    Brigadier  Ge- 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     30I 

rard!'  Then  they  will  see  my  face.  They  will 
know  me.  And  I  will  tell  them  about  you. 
Under  the  shield  of  these  clothes  you  will  be 
sacred." 

His  fingers  trembled  with  eagerness  as  he 
tore  off  his  tunic.  His  boots  and  breeches  were 
much  like  my  own,  so  there  was  no  need  to 
change  them,  but  I  gave  him  my  hussar  jacket, 
my  dolman,  my  busby,  my  sword-belt,  and  my 
sabre-tasche,  while  I  took  in  exchange  his  high 
sheepskin  cap  with  the  gold  chevron,  his  fur- 
trimmed  coat,  and  his  crooked  sword.  Be  it  well 
understood  that  in  changing  the  tunics  I  did  not 
forget  to  change  my  thrice-precious  letter  also 
from  my  old  one  to  my  new. 

"  With  your  leave,"  said  I,  "  I  shall  now  bind 
you  to  a  barrel." 

He  made  a  great  fuss  over  this,  but  I  have 
learned  in  my  soldiering  never  to  throw  away 
chances,  and  how  could  I  tell  that  he  might  not, 
'  when  my  back  was  turned,  see  how  the  matter 
really  stood  and  break  in  upon  my  plans  ?  He 
was  leaning  against  a  barrel  at  the  time,  so  I  ran 
six  times  round  it  with  a  rope,  and  then  tied  it 
with   a   big  knot   behind.     If   he  wished  to  come 


302       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

upstairs  he  would,  at  least,  have  to  carry  a  thou- 
sand litres  of  good  French  wine  for  a  knapsack. 
I  then  shut  the  door  of  the  back  cellar  behind  me, 
so  that  he  might  not  hear  what  was  going  for- 
ward, and  tossing  the  candle  away  I  ascended 
the  kitchen  stair. 

There  were  only  about  twenty  steps,  and  yet, 
while  I  came  up  them,  I  seemed  to  have  time  to 
think  of  everything  that  I  had  ever  hoped  to  do. 
It  was  the  same  feeling  that  I  had  at  Eylau  when 
I  lay  with  my  broken  leg  and  saw  the  horse  artil- 
lery galloping  down  upon  me.  Of  course,  I 
knew  that  if  I  were  taken  I  should  be  shot  in- 
stantly as  being  disguised  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  Still,  it  was  a  glorious  death — in  the  direct 
service  of  the  Emperor — and  I  reflected  that  there 
could  not  be  less  than  five  lines,  and  perhaps 
seven,  in  the  Moniteur  about  me.  Palaret  had 
eight  lines,  and  I  am  sure  that  he  had  not  so  fine 
a  career. 

When  I  made  my  way  out  into  the  hall,  with 
all  the  nonchalance  in  my  face  and  manner  that  I 
could  assume,  the  very  first  thing  that  I  saw  was 
Bouvet's  dead  body,  with  his  legs  drawn  up  and 
a  broken  sword  in  his  hand.     I  could  see  by  the 


I  laughed  heartily. 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     303 

black  smudge  that  he  had  been  shot  at  close 
quarters.  I  should  have  wished  to  salute  as  I 
went  by,  for  he  was  a  gallant  man,  but  I  feared 
lest  I  should  be  seen,  and  so  I  passed  on. 

The  front  of  the  hall  was  full  of  Prussian  in- 
fantry, who  were  knocking  loopholes  in  the  wall, 
as  though  they  expected  that  there  might  be  yet 
another  attack.  Their  officer,  a  little  man,  was 
running  about  giving  directions.  They  were  all 
too  busy  to  take  much  notice  of  me,  but  another 
officer,  who  was  standing  by  the  door  with  a  long 
pipe  in  his  mouth,  strode  across  and  clapped  me 
on  the  shoulder,  pointing  to  the  dead  bodies  of 
our  poor  hussars,  and  saying  something  which  was 
meant  for  a  jest,  for  his  long  beard  opened  and 
showed  every  fang  in  his  head.  I  laughed 
heartily  also,  and  said  the  only  Russian  words 
that  I  knew.  I  learned  them  from  little  Sophie, 
at  Wilna,  and  they  meant :  *'  If  the  night  is  fine 
we  shall  meet  under  the  oak  tree,  and  if  it  rains 
we  shall  meet  in  the  byre."  It  was  all  the  same 
to  this  German,  however,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  he  gave  me  credit  for  saying  something  very 
witty  indeed,  for  he  roared  laughing,  and  slapped 
me  on  my  shoulder  again.     I  nodded  to  him  and 


304       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

marched  out  of  the  hall-door  as  coolly  as  if  I  were 
the  commandant  of  the  garrison. 

There  were  a  hundred  horses  tethered  about 
Outside,  most  of  them  belonging  to  the  Poles  and 
hussars.  Good  little  Violette  was  waiting  with 
the  others,  and  she  whinnied  when  she  saw  me 
coming  towards  her.  But  I  would  not  mount  her. 
No.  I  was  much  too  cunning  for  that.  On  the 
contrary,  I  chose  the  most  shaggy  little  Cossack 
horse  that  I  could  see,  and  I  sprang  upon  it  with  as 
much  assurance  as  though  it  had  belonged  to  my 
father  before  me.  It  had  a  great  bag  of  plunder 
slung  over  its  neck,  and  this  I  laid  upon  Violette's 
back,  and  led  her  along  beside  me.  Never  have 
you  seen  such  a  picture  of  the  Cossack  returning 
from  the  foray.     It  was  superb. 

Well,  the  town  was  full  of  Prussians  by  this 
time.  They  lined  the  side-walks  and  pointed  me 
out  to  each  other,  saying,  as  I  could  judge  from 
their  gestures,  "  There  goes  one  of  those  devils  of 
Cossacks.  They  are  the  boys  for  foraging  and 
plunder." 

One  or  two  officers  spoke  to  me  with  an  air 
of  authority,  but  I  shook  my  head  and  smiled,  and 
said,  "  If  the  night  is    fine  we    shall    meet   under 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     305 

the  oak  tree,  but  if  it  rains  we  shall  meet  in  the 
byre,"  at  which  they  shrugged  their  shoulders  and 
gave  the  matter  up.  In  this  way  I  worked  along 
until  I  was  beyond  the  northern  outskirt  of  the 
town.  I  could  see  in  the  roadway  two  lancer 
vedettes  with  their  black  and  white  pennons,  and 
I  knew  that  when  I  was  once  past  these  I  should 
be  a  free  man  once  more.  I  made  my  pony  trot, 
therefore,  Violette  rubbing  her  nose  against  my 
knee  all  the  time,  and  looking  up  at  me  to  ask 
how  she  had  deserved  that  this  hairy  doormat  of 
a  creature  should  be  preferred  to  her.  I  was  not 
more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  the  Uhlans,  when 
suddenly,  you  can  imagine  my  feelings  when  I  saw 
a  real  Cossack  coming  galloping  along  the  road- 
way towards  me. 

Ah,  my  friend,  you  who  read  this,  if  you  have 
any  heart,  you  will  feel  for  a  man  like  me,  who 
had  gone  through  so  many  dangers  and  trials, 
only  at  this  very  last  moment  to  be  confronted 
with  one  which  appeared  to  put  an  end  to  every- 
thing. I  will  confess  that  for  a  moment  I  lost 
heart,  and  was  inclined  to  throw  myself  down  in 
my  despair,  and  to  cry  out  that  I  had  been  be- 
trayed.    But,  no  ;  I  was  not  beaten  even  now.     I 


306       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

opened  two  buttons  of  my  tunic  so  that  I  might  get 
easily  at  the  Emperor's  message,  for  it  was  my 
fixed  determination  when  all  hope  was  gone  to 
swallow  the  letter  and  then  die  sword  in  hand. 
Then  I  felt  that  my  little  crooked  sword  was 
loose  in  its  sheath,  and  I' trotted  on  to  where  the 
vedettes  were  waiting.  They  seemed  inclined  to 
stop  me,  but  I  pointed  to  the  other  Cossack,  who 
was  still  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  off,  and  they, 
understanding  that  I  merely  wished  to  meet  him, 
let  me  pass  with  a  salute. 

I  dug  my  spurs  into  my  pony,  then,  for  if  I 
were  only  far  enough  from  the  lancers  I  thought 
I  might  manage  the  Cossack  without  much  diffi- 
culty. He  was  an  officer,  a  large,  bearded  man, 
with  a  gold  chevron  in  his  cap,  just  the  same  as 
mine.  As  I  advanced  he  unconsciously  aided  me 
by  pulling  up  his  horse,  so  that  I  had  a  fine  start 
of  the  vedettes.  On  I  came  for  him,  and  I  could 
see  wonder  changing  to  suspicion  in  his  brown 
eyes  as  he  looked  at  me  and  at  my  pony,  and  at 
my  equipment.  I  do  not  know  what  it  was  that 
was  wrong,  but  he  saw  something  which  was  as  it 
should  not  be.  He  shouted  out  a  question,  and 
then  when    I  gave  no   answer   he  pulled    out   his 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     307 

sword.  I  was  glad  in  my  heart  to  see  him  do  so, 
for  I  had  always  rather  fight  than  cut  down  an 
unsuspecting  enemy.  Now  I  made  at  him  full 
tilt,  and,  parrying  his  cut,  I  got  my  point  in  just 
under  the  fourth  button  of  his  tunic.  Down  he 
went,  and  the  weight  of  him  nearly  took  me  off 
my  horse  before  I  could  disengage.  I  never 
glanced  at  him  to  see  if  he  were  living  or  dead, 
for  I  sprang  off  my  pony  and  on  to  Violette,  with 
a  shake  of  my  bridle  and  a  kiss  of  my  hand  to  the 
two  Uhlans  behind  me.  They  galloped  after  me, 
shouting,  but  Violette  had  had  her  rest  and  was 
just  as  fresh  as  when  she  started.  I  took  the  first 
side  road  to  the  west  and  then  the  first  to  the 
south,  which  would  take  me  away  from  the 
enemy's  country.  On  we  went  and  on,  every 
stride  taking  me  further  from  my  foes  and  nearer 
to  my  friends.  At  last,  when  I  reached  the  end 
of  a  long  stretch  of  road,  and  looking  back  from 
it  could  see  no  sign  of  any  pursuers,  I  understood 
that  my  troubles  were  over. 

And  it  gave  me  a  glow  of  happiness,  as  I  rode, 
to  think  that  I  had  done  to  the  letter  what  the 
Emperor  had  ordered.  What  would  he  say  when 
he  saw  me  ?     What  could  he  say  which  would  do 


308       THE   EXPLOITS   OF    BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

justice  to  the  incredible  way  in  which  I  had  risen 
above  every  danger  ?  He  had  ordered  me  to  go 
through  Sermoise,  Soissons,  and  Senlis,  little 
dreaming  that  they  were  all  three  occupied  by 
the  enemy.  And  yet  I  had  done  it.  I  had  borne 
his  letter  in  safety  through  each  of  these  towns. 
Hussars,  dragoons,  lancers,  Cossacks,  and  infantry 
— I  had  run  the  gauntlet  of  all  of  them,  and  had 
come  out  unharmed. 

When  I  had  got  as  far  as  Dammartin  I  caught 
a  first  glimpse  of  our  own  outposts.  There  was  a 
troop  of  dragoons  in  a  field,  and  of  course  I  could 
see  from  the  horsehair  crests  that  they  were 
French.  I  galloped  towards  them  in  order  to  ask 
them  if  all  was  safe  between  there  and  Paris,  and 
as  I  rode  I  felt  such  a  pride  at  having  won  my 
way  back  to  friends  again,  that  I  could  not  refrain 
from  waving  my  sword  in  the  air. 

At  this  a  young  officer  galloped  out  from 
among  the  dragoons,  also  brandishing  his  sword, 
and  it  warmed  my  heart  to  think  that  he  should 
come  riding  with  such  ardour  and  enthusiasm  to 
greet  me.  I  made  Violette  caracole,  and  as  we 
came  together  I  brandished  my  sword  more  gal- 
lantly than  ever,  but  you  can  imagine  my  feelings 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     309 

when  he  suddenly  made  a  cut  at  me  which  would 
certainly  have  taken  my  head  off  if  I  had  not 
fallen  forward  with  my  nose  in  Violette's  mane. 
My  faith,  it  whistled  just  over  my  cap  like  an  east 
wind.  Of  course,  it  came  from  this  accursed  Cos- 
sack uniform  which,  in  my  excitement,  I  had  for- 
gotten all  about,  and  this  young  dragoon  had 
imagined  that  I  was  some  Russian  champion  who 
was  challenging  the  French  cavalry.  My  word, 
he  was  a  frightened  man  when  he  understood 
how  near  he  had  been  to  killing  the  celebrated 
Brigadier  Gerard. 

Well,  the  road  was  clear,  and  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  I  was  at  St.  Denis,  though 
it  took  me  a  long  two  hours  to  get  from  there  to 
Paris,  for  the  road  was  blocked  with  commissariat 
waggons  and  guns  of  the  artillery  reserve,  which 
was  going  north  to  Marmont  and  Mortier.  You 
cannot  conceive  the  excitement  which  my  appear- 
ance in  such  a  costume  made  in  Paris,  and  when  I 
came  to  the  Rue  de  Rivoli  I  should  think  I  had 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  folk  riding  or  running  be- 
hind me.  Word  had  got  about  from  the  dragoons 
(two  of  whom  had  come  with  me),  and  everybody 
knew  about  my  adventures  and  how  I  had  come 


3IO       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

by  my  uniform.  It  was  a  triumph— men  shouting 
and  women  waving  their  handkerchiefs  and  blow- 
ing kisses  from  the  windows. 

Although  I  am  a  man  singularly  free  from 
conceit,  still  I  must  confess  that,  on  this  one  oc- 
casion, I  could  not  restrain  myself  from  showing 
that  this  reception  gratified  me.  The  Russian's 
coat  had  hung  very  loose  upon  me,  but  now  I 
threw  out  my  chest  until  it  was  as  tight  as  a 
sausage-skin.  And  my  little  sweetheart  of  a  mare 
tossed  her  mane  and  pawed  with  her  front  hoofs, 
frisking  her  tail  about  as  though  she  said,  "  We've 
done  it  together  this  time.  It  is  to  us  that  com- 
missions should  be  intrusted."  When  I  kissed 
her  between  the  nostrils  as  I  dismounted  at  the 
gate  of  the  Tuileries  there  was  as  much  shout- 
ing as  if  a  bulletin  had  been  read  from  the  Grand 
Army. 

I  was  hardly  in  costume  to  visit  a  king ;  but, 
after  all,  if  one  has  a  soldierly  figure  one  can  do 
without  all  that.  I  was  shown  up  straight  away 
to  Joseph,  whom  I  had  often  seen  in  Spain.  He 
seemed  as  stout,  as  quiet,  and  as  amiable  as 
ever.  Talleyrand  was  in  the  room  with  him,  or 
I  suppose  I  should  call  him  the    Duke   of    Bene- 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     31I 

vento,  but  I  confess  that  I  like  old  names  best. 
He  read  my  letter  when  Joseph  Buonaparte 
handed  it  to  him,  and  then  he  looked  at  me  with 
the  strangest  expression  in  those  funny  little, 
twinkling  eyes  of  his. 

''Were  you  the  only  messenger?"  he  asked. 

"  There  was  one   other,  sir,"    said    I.     "  Major 
Charpentier,  of  the  Horse  Grenadiers." 

"  He  has  not  yet  arrived,"  said  the  King  of 
Spain. 

*'  If  you  had  seen  the  legs  of  his  horse,  sire, 
you  would  not  wonder  at  it,"  I  remarked. 

"  There  may  be  other  reasons,"  said  Talleyrand, 
and  he  gave  that  singular  smile  of  his. 

Well,  they  paid  me  a  compliment  or  two, 
though  they  might  have  said  a  good  deal  more 
and  yet  have  said  too  little.  I  bowed  myself  out, 
and  very  glad  I  was  to  get  away,  for  I  hate  a 
court  as  much  as  I  love  a  camp.  Away  I  went 
to  my  old  friend  Chaubert,  in  the  Rue  Miromes- 
nil,  and  there  I  got  his  hussar  uniform,  which 
fitted  me  very  well.  He  and  Lisette  and  I  supped 
together  in  his  rooms,  and  all  my  dangers  were 
forgotten.  In  the  morning  I  found  Violette  ready 
for  another  twenty-league  stretch.     It  was  my  in- 


312       THE   EXPLOITS   OF    BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

tention  to  return  instantly  to  the  Emperor's  head- 
quarters, for  I  was,  as  you  may  well  imagine, 
impatient  to  hear  his  words  of  praise,  and  to  re- 
ceive my  reward. 

I  need  not  say  that  I  rode  back  by  a  safe 
route,  for  I  had  seen  quite  enough  of  Uhlans  and 
Cossacks.  I  passed  through  Meaux  and  Chateau 
Thierry,  and  so  in  the  evening  I  arrived  at 
Rheims,  where  Napoleon  was  still  lying.  The 
bodies  of  our  fellows  and  of  St.  Prest's  Russians 
had  all  been  buried,  and  I  could  see  changes  in 
the  camp  also.  The  soldiers  looked  better  cared 
for;  some  of  the  cavalry  had  received  remounts, 
and  everything  was  in  excellent  order.  It  is  won- 
derful what  a  good  general  can  effect  in  a  couple 
of  days. 

When  I  came  to  the  headquarters  I  was  shown 
straight  into  the  Emperor's  room.  He  was  drink- 
ing coffee  at  a  writing-table,  with  a  big  plan 
drawn  out  on  paper  in  front  of  him.  Berthier 
and  McDonald  were  leaning,  one  over  each  shoul- 
der, and  he  was  talking  so  quickly  that  I  don't 
believe  that  either  of  them  could  catch  a  half  of 
what  he  was  saying.  But  when  his  eyes  fell  upon 
me  he  dropped  the  pen  on  to   the  chart,  and    he 


"  What  are  you  doinp-  here  ?  "  he  shouted. 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     313 

sprang  up  with  a  look  in  his  pale  face  which  struck 
me  cold. 

"What  the  deuce  are  you  doing  here?"  he 
shouted.  When  he  was  angry  he  had  a  voice  like 
a  peacock. 

*'  I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you,  sire," 
said  I,  "  that  I  have  delivered  your  despatch  safely 
to  the  King  of  Spain." 

"  What ! "  he  yelled,  and  his  two  eyes  trans- 
fixed me  like  bayonets.  Oh,  those  dreadful  eyes, 
shifting  from  grey  to  blue,  like  steel  in  the  sun- 
shine. I  can  see  them  now  when  I  have  a  bad 
dream. 

"  What  has  become  of  Charpentier?"  he  asked. 

"  He  is  captured,"  said  McDonald. 

"By  whom?" 

"  The  Russians." 

"The  Cossacks?" 

"No,  a  single  Cossack." 

"  He  gave  himself  up  ?  " 

"  Without  resistance." 

"  He  is  an  intelligent  officer.  You  will  see  that 
the  medal  of  honour  is  awarded  to  him." 

When  I  heard  those  words  I  had  to  rub  my 
eyes  to  make  sure  that  I  was  awake. 


314       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  As  to  you,"  cried  the  Emperor,  taking  a  step 
forward  as  if  he  would  have  struck  me,  "  you 
brain  of  a  hare,  what  do  you  think  that  you  were 
sent  upon  this  mission  for?  Do  you  conceive 
that  I  would  send  a  really  important  message  by 
such  a  hand  as  yours,  and  through  every  village 
which  the  enemy  holds  ?  How  you  came  through 
them  passes  my  comprehension ;  but  if  your  fel- 
low messenger  had  had  but  as  little  sense  as  you, 
my  whole  plan  of  campaign  would  have  been 
ruined.  Can  you  not  see,  coglione,  that  this  mes- 
sage contained  false  news,  and  that  it  was  intended 
to  deceive  the  enemy  whilst  I  put  a  very  differ- 
ent scheme  into  execution  ?  " 

When  I  heard  those  cruel  words  and  saw  the 
angry,  white  face  which  glared  at  me,  I  had  to 
hold  the  back  of  a  chair,  for  my  mind  was  failing 
me  and  my  knees  would  hardly  bear  me  up.  But 
then  I  took  courage  as  I  reflected  that  I  was  an 
honourable  gentleman,  and  that  my  whole  life  had 
been  spent  in  toiling  for  this  man  and  for  my  be- 
loved country. 

"  Sire,"  said  I,  and  the  tears  would  trickle 
down  my  cheeks  whilst  I  spoke,  "  when  you  are 
dealing  with    a    man  like  me    you    would    find    it 


HOW  BRIGADIER  GERARD  WON  HIS  MEDAL.     315 

wiser  to  deal  openly.  Had  I  known  that  you 
had  wished  the  despatch  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  I  would  have  seen  that  it  came 
there.  As  I  believed  that  I  was  to  guard  it,  I 
was  prepared  to  sacrifice  my  life  for  it.  I  do 
not  believe,  sire,  that  any  man  in  the  world  ever 
met  with  more  toils  and  perils  than  I  have  done 
in  trying  to  carry  out  what  I  thought  was  your 
will." 

I  dashed  the  tears  from  my  eyes  as  I  spoke, 
and  with  such  fire  and  spirit  as  I  could  com- 
mand I  gave  him  an  account  of  it  all,  of  my 
dash  through  Soissons,  my  brush  with  the  dra- 
goons, my  adventure  in  Senlis,  my  rencontre  with 
Count  Boutkine  in  the  cellar,  my  disguise,  my 
meeting  with  the  Cossack  officer,  my  flight,  and 
how  at  the  last  moment  I  was  nearly  cut  down 
by  a  French  dragoon.  The  Emperor,  Berthier, 
and  McDonald  listened  with  astonishment  on  their 
faces.  When  I  had  finished  Napoleon  stepped  for- 
ward and  he  pinched  me  by  the  ear. 

"  There,  there  !  "    said    he.     "  Forget   anything 

which  I  may  have  said.     I  would  have  done  better 

to  trust  you.     You  may  go." 

I  turned  to  the  door,  and  my  hand  was  upon 
21 


3l6      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

the  handle,  when    the    Emperor   called    upon  me 
to  stop. 

*'You  will  see,"  said  he,  turning  to  the  Duke 
of  Tarentum,  "  that  Brigadier  Gerard  has  the  spe- 
cial medal  of  honour,  for  I  believe  that  if  he  has 
the  thickest  head  he  has  also  the  stoutest  heart 
in  my  army.'* 


VIII. 

HOW   THE   BRIGADIER  WAS   TEMPTED  BY 
THE    DEVIL. 

The  spring  is  at  hand,  my  friends.  I  can  see 
the  little  green  spearheads  breaking  out  once  more 
upon  the  chestnut  trees,  and  the  cafe  tables  have 
all  been  moved  into  the  sunshine.  It  is  more 
pleasant  to  sit  there,  and  yet  I  do  not  wish  to 
tell  my  little  stories  to  the  whole  town.  You 
have  heard  my  doings  as  a  lieutenant,  as  a  squad- 
ron officer,  as  a  colonel,  as  the  chief  of  a  brigade. 
But  now  I  suddenly  become  something  higher 
and  more  important.     I  become  history. 

If  you  have  read  of  those  closing  years  of  the 

life  of  the  Emperor  which  were  spent  in  the  Island 

of  St.  Helena,  you  will  remember  that,  again  and 

again,    he  implored    permission    to   send    out  one 

single  letter  which  should  be  unopened    by  those 

who  held  him.     Many  times  he  made  this  request, 

317 


3l8       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

and  even  went  so  far  as  to  promise  that  he  would 
provide  for  his  own  wants  and  cease  to  be  an  ex- 
pense to  the  British  Government  if  it  were 
granted  to  him.  But  his  guardians  knew  that  he 
was  a  terrible  man,  this  pale,  fat  gentleman  in  the 
straw  hat,  and  they  dared  not  grant  him  what  he 
asked.  Many  have  wondered  who  it  was  to  whom 
he  could  have  had  anything  so  secret  to  say. 
Some  have  supposed  that  it  was  to  his  wife,  and 
some  that  it  was  to  his  father-in-law ;  some  that  it 
was  to  the  Emperor  Alexander,  and  some  to  Mar- 
shal Soult.  What  will  you  think  of  me,  my  friends, 
when  I  tell  you  it  was  to  me — to  me,  the  Brigadier 
Gerard — that  the  Emperor  wished  to  write  !  Yes, 
humble  as  you  see  me,  with  only  my  loo  francs  a 
month  of  half-pay  between  me  and  hunger,  it  is 
none  the  less  true  that  I  was  always  in  the  Em- 
peror's mind,  and  that  he  would  have  given  his 
left  hand  for  five  minutes*  talk  with  me.  I  will 
tell  you  to-night  how  this  came  about. 

It  was  after  the  Battle  of  Fere-Champenoise, 
where  the  conscripts  in  their  blouses  and  their 
sabots  made  such  a  fine  stand,  that  we,  the  more 
long-headed  of  us,  began  to  understand  that  it 
was  all  over  with    us.      Our   reserve  ammunition 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE  DEVIL.      319 

had  been  taken  in  the  battle,  and  we  were  left 
with  silent  guns  and  empty  caissons.  Our  cavalr}^ 
too,  was  in  a  deplorable  condition,  and  my  own 
brigade  had  been  destroyed  in  the  great  charge 
at  Craonne.  Then  came  the  news  that  the  enemy 
had  taken  Paris,  that  the  citizens  had  mounted  the 
white  cockade ;  and  finally,  most  terrible  of  all, 
that  Marmont  and  his  corps  had  gone  over  to 
the  Bourbons.  We  looked  at  each  other  and 
asked  how  many  more  of  our  generals  were  go- 
ing to  turn  against  us.  Already  there  were  Jour- 
dan,  Marmont,  Murat,  Bernadotte,  and  Jomini — 
though  nobody  minded  much  about  Jomini,  for 
his  pen  was  always  sharper  than  his  sword.  We 
had  been  ready  to  fight  Europe,  but  it  looked 
now  as  though  we  were  to  fight  Europe  and  half 
France  as  well. 

We  had  come  to  Fontainebleau  by  a  long, 
forced  march,  and  there  we  were  assembled,  the 
poor  remnants  of  us,  the  corps  of  Ney,  the  corps 
of  my  cousin  Gerard,  and  the  corps  of  Macdonald  : 
twenty-five  thousand  in  all,  with  seven  thousand 
of  the  guard.  But  we  had  our  prestige,  which 
was  worth  fifty  thousand,  and  our  Emperor,  who 
was  worth  fifty  thousand  more.     He  was  always 


320       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

among  us,  serene,  smiling,  confident,  taking  his 
snuff  and  playing  with  his  little  riding- whip. 
Never  in  the  days  of  his  greatest  victories  have 
I  admired  him  as  much  as  I  did  during  the 
Campaign  of  France. 

One  evening  I  was  with  a  few  of  my  officers 
drinking  a  glass  of  wine  of  Suresnes.  1  mention 
that  it  was  wine  of  Suresnes  just  to  show  you  that 
times  were  not  very  good  with  us.  Suddenly  I 
was  disturbed  by  a  message  from  Berthier  that 
he  wished  to  see  me.  When  I  speak  of  my  old 
comrades-in-arms,  I  will,  with  your  permission, 
leave  out  all  the  fine  foreign  titles  which  they 
had  picked  up  during  the  wars.  They  are  ex- 
cellent for  a  Court,  but  you  never  heard  them  in 
the  camp,  for  we  could  not  afford  to  do  away  with 
our  Ney,  our  Rapp,  or  our  Soult — names  which 
were  as  stirring  to  our  ears  as  the  blare  of  our 
trumpets  blowing  the  reveille.  It  was  Berthier, 
then,  who  sent  to  say  that  he  wished  to  see  me. 

He  had  a  suite  of  rooms  at  the  end  of  the 
gallery  of  Francis  the  First,  not  very  far  from 
those  of  the  Emperor.  In  the  ante-chamber  were 
waiting  two  men  whom  I  knew  well :  Colonel 
Despienne,  of   the  57th    of   the  line,  and    Captain 


HOW    HE   WAS  TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      32 1 

Tremeau,  of  the  Voltigeurs.  They  were  both  old 
soldiers — Tremeau  had  carried  a  musket  in  Egypt 
— and  they  were  also  both  famous  in  the  army  for 
their  courage  and  their  skill  with  weapons.  Tre- 
meau had  become  a  little  stiff  in  the  wrist,  but 
Despienne  was  capable  at  his  best  of  making  me 
exert  myself.  He  was  a  tiny  fellow,  about  three 
inches  short  of  the  proper  height  for  a  man — he 
was  exactly  three  inches  shorter  than  myself — but 
both  with  the  sabre  and  with  the  small-sword  he 
had  several  times  almost  held  his  own  against  me 
when  we  used  to  exhibit  at  Verron's  Hall  of  Arms 
in  the  Palais  Royal.  You  may  think  that  it  made 
us  sniff  something  in  the  wind  when  we  found 
three  such  men  called  together  into  one  room. 
You  cannot  see  the  lettuce  and  the  dressing  with- 
out suspecting  a  salad. 

"  Name  of  a  pipe ! "  said  Tremeau,  in  his 
barrack-room  fashion.  "  Are  we  then  expecting 
three  champions  of  the  Bourbons  ?  " 

To  all  of  us  the  idea  appeared  not  improbable. 
Certainly  in  the  whole  army  we  were  the  very 
three  who  might  have  been  chosen  to  meet 
them. 

"  The    Prince  of    Neufchatel    desires    to  speak 


322      THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

with  the  Brigadier  Gerard,"  said  a  footman, 
appearing  at  the  door. 

In  I  went,  leaving  my  two  companions  con- 
sumed with  impatience  behind  me.  It  was  a  small 
room,  but  very  gorgeously  furnished.  Berthier 
was  seated  opposite  to  me  at  a  little  table,  with 
a  pen  in  his  hand  and  a  note-book  open  before 
him.  He  was  looking  weary  and  slovenly — very 
different  from  that  Berthier  who  used  to  give  the 
fashion  to  the  army,  and  who  had  so  often  set  us 
poorer  officers  tearing  our  hair  by  trimming  his 
pelisse  with  fur,  one  campaign,  and  with  grey 
astrakhan  the  next.  On  his  clean-shaven,  comely 
face  there  was  an  expression  of  trouble,  and  he 
looked  at  me  as  I  entered  his  chamber  in  a  way 
which  had  in  it  something  furtive  and  displeasing. 

"  Chief  of  Brigade  Gerard  !  '*  said  he. 

"  At  your  service,  your  Highness ! "  I  an- 
swered. 

"  I  must  ask  you,  before  I  go  farther,  to 
promise  me,  upon  your  honour  as  a  gentleman 
and  a  soldier,  that  what  is  about  to  pass  between 
us  shall  never  be  mentioned  to  any  third  person." 

My  word,  this  was  a  fine  beginning  !  I  had  no 
choice  but  to  give  the  promise  required. 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      323 

"  You  must  know,  then,  that  it  is  all  over  with 
the  Emperor,"  said  he,  looking  down  at  the  table 
and  speaking  very  slowly,  as  if  he  had  a  hard 
task  in  getting  out  the  words.  ''  Jourdan  at  Rouen 
and  Marmont  at  Paris  have  both  mounted  the 
white  cockade,  and  it  is  rumoured  that  Talleyrand 
has  talked  Ney  into  doing  the  same.  It  is  evident 
that  further  resistance  is  useless,  and  that  it  can 
only  bring  misery  upon  our  country.  I  wish  to 
ask  you,  therefore,  whether  you  are  prepared  to 
join  me  in  laying  hands  upon  the  Emperor's  per- 
son, and  bringing  the  war  to  a  conclusion  by 
delivering  him  over  to  the  allies." 

I  assure  you  that  when  I  heard  this  infamous 
proposition  put  forward  by  the  man  who  had  been 
the  earliest  friend  of  the  Emperor,  and  who  had 
received  greater  favours  from  him  than  any  of  his 
followers,  I  could  only  stand  and  stare  at  him  in 
amazement.  For  his  part  he  tapped  his  pen-handle 
against  his  teeth,  and  looked  at  me  with  a  slant- 
ing head. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  am  a  little  deaf  upon  one  side,"  said  I,  coldly. 
**  There  are  some  things  which  I  cannot  hear.  I 
beg  that  you  will  permit  me  to  return  to  my  duties." 


324       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  Nay,  but  you  must  not  be  headstrong,"  said 
he,  rising  up  and  laying  his  hand  upon  my  shoul- 
der. "  You  are  aware  that  the  Senate  has  declared 
against  Napoleon,  and  that  the  Emperor  Alexander 
refuses  to  treat  with  him." 

*'  Sir,"  I  cried,  with  passion,  "  I  would  have 
you  know  that  I  do  not  care  the  dregs  of  a  wine- 
glass for  the  Senate  or  for  the  Emperor  Alexander 
either." 

"Then  for  what  do  you  care?" 

"  For  my  own  honour  and  for  the  service  of 
my  glorious  master,  the  Emperor  Napoleon." 

"  That  is  all  very  well,"  said  Berthier,  pee- 
vishly, shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  Facts  are  facts, 
and  as  men  of  the  world,  we  must  look  them  in 
the  face.  Are  we  to  stand  against  the  will  of  the 
nation  ?  Are  we  to  have  civil  war  on  the  top  of 
all  our  misfortunes  ?  And,  besides,  we  are  thin- 
ning away.  Every  hour  comes  the  news  of  fresh 
desertions.  We  have  still  time  to  make  our  peace, 
and,  indeed,  to  earn  the  highest  reward,  by  giv- 
ing up  the  Emperor." 

1  shook  so  with  passion  that  my  sabre  clat- 
tered against  my  thigh. 

"  Sir,"  I  cried,  *'  I  never  thought  to  have  seen 


HOW  HE  WAS  TEMPTED   BY  THE   DEVIL.      325 

the  day  when  a  Marshal  of  France  would  have 
so  far  degraded  himself  as  to  put  forward  such  a 
proposal.  I  leave  you  to  your  own  conscience ; 
but  as  for  me,  until  I  have  the  Emperor's  own 
order,  there  shall  always  be  the  sword  of  Etienne 
Gerard  between  his  enemies  and  himself." 

I  was  so  moved  by  my  own  words  and  by  the 
fine  position  which  I  had  taken  up,  that  my  voice 
broke,  and  I  could  hardly  refrain  from  tears.  I 
should  have  liked  the  whole  army  to  have  seen 
me  as  I  stood  with  my  head  so  proudly  erect 
and  my  hand  upon  my  heart  proclaiming  my  de- 
votion to  the  Emperor  in  his  adversity.  It  was 
one  of  the  supreme  moments  of  my  life. 

"  Very  good,"  said  Berthier,  ringing  a  bell  for 
the  lackey.  **  You  will  show  the  Chief  of  Brigade 
Gerard  into  the  salon." 

The  footman  led  me  into  an  inner  room,  where 
he  desired  me  to  be  seated.  For  my  own  part, 
my  only  desire  was  to  get  away,  and  I  could  not 
understand  why  they  should  wish  to  detain  me. 
When  one  has  had  no  change  of  uniform  during 
a  whole  winter's  campaign,  one  does  not  feel  at 
home  in  a  palace. 

I  had  been  there  about  a  quarter  of  an   hour 


326       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

when  the  footman  opened  the  door  again,  and  in 
came  Colonel  Despienne.  Good  heavens,  what  a 
sight  he  was !  His  face  was  as  white  as  a  guards- 
man's gaiters,  his  eyes  projecting,  the  veins 
swollen  upon  his  forehead,  and  every  hair  of  his 
moustache  bristling  like  those  of  an  angry  cat.  He 
was  too  angry  to  speak,  and  could  only  shake  his 
hands  at  the  ceiling  and  make  a  gurgling  in  his 
throat.  "  Parricide !  Viper  !  *'  those  were  the 
words  that  L  could  catch  as  he  stamped  up  and 
down  the  room. 

Of  course  it  was  evident  to  me  that  he  had 
been  subjected  to  the  same  infamous  proposals  as 
I  had,  and  that  he  had  received  them  in  the  same 
spirit.  His  lips  were  sealed  to  me,  as  mine  were 
to  him,  by  the  promise  which  we  had  taken,  but 
I  contented  myself  with  muttering  "  Atrocious ! 
Unspeakable !  "—so  that  he  might  know  that  I 
was  in  agreement  with  him. 

Well,  we  were  still  there,  he  striding  furiously 
up  and  down,  and  I  seated  in  the  corner,  when 
suddenly  a  most  extraordinary  uproar  broke  out 
in  the  room  which  we  had  just  quitted.  There 
was  a  snarling,  worrying  growl,  like  that  of  a 
fierce  dog  which  has  got  his  grip.     Then  came  a 


Tremeau  and  Berthier  were  rolling  together  upon  the  floor. 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       327 

crash  and  a  voice  calling  for  help.  In  we  rushed, 
the  two  of  us,  and,  my  faith,  we  were  none  too 
soon. 

Old  Tremeau  and  Berthier  were  rolling  to- 
gether upon  the  floor,  with  the  table  upon  the 
top  of  them.  The  Captain  had  one  of  his  great, 
skinny,  yellow  hands  upon  the  Marshal's  throat, 
and  already  his  face  was  lead-coloured,  and  his 
eyes  were  starting  from  their  sockets.  As  to 
Tremeau,  he  was  beside  himself,  with  foam  upon 
the  corners  of  his  lips,  and  such  a  frantic  expres- 
sion upon  him  that  I  am  convinced,  had  we  not 
loosened  his  iron  grip,  finger  by  finger,  that  it 
would  never  have  relaxed  while  the  Marshal  lived. 
His  nails  were  white  with  the  power  of  his 
grasp. 

"  I  have  been  tempted  by  the  devil!  "  he  cried, 
as  he  staggered  to  his  feet.  "  Yes,  I  have  been 
tempted  by  the  devil !  " 

As  to  Berthier,  he  could  only  lean  against  the 
wall,  and  pant  for  a  couple  of  minutes,  putting 
his  hands  up  to  his  throat  and  rolling  his  head 
about.  Then,  with  an  angry  gesture,  he  turned 
to  the  heavy  blue  curtain  which  hung  behind  his 
chair. 


328       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

**  There,  sire  !  "  he  cried,  furiously,  **  I  told  you 
exactly  what  would  come  of  it." 

The  curtain  was  torn  to  one  side  and  the  Em- 
peror stepped  out  into  the  room.  We  sprang  to 
the  salute,  we  three  old  soldiers,  but  it  was  all 
like  a  scene  in  a  dream  to  us,  and  our  eyes  were 
as  far  out  as  Berthier's  had  been.  Napoleon 
was  dressed  in  his  green-coated  chasseur  uniform, 
and  he  held  his  little  silver-headed  switch  in  his 
hand.  He  looked  at  us  each  in  turn,  with  a  smile 
upon  his  face — that  frightful  smile  in  which  neither 
eyes  nor  brow  joined — and  each  in  turn  had,  I 
believe,  a  pringling  on  his  skin,  for  that  was  the 
efifect  which  the  Emperor's  gaze  had  upon  most 
of  us.  Then  he  walked  across  to  Berthier  and 
put  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder. 

"  You  must  not  quarrel  with  blows,  my  dear 
Prince,"  said  he ;  "  they  are  your  title  to  nobility." 
He  spoke  in  that  soft,  caressing  manner  which  he 
could  assume.  There  was  no  one  who  could  make 
the  French  tongue  sound  so  pretty  as  the  Em- 
peror, and  no  one  who  could  make  it  more  harsh 
and  terrible. 

"  I  believe  he  would  have  killed  me,"  cried 
Berthier,  still  rolling  his  head  about. 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY  THE   DEVIL.      329 

"  Tut,  tut !  I  should  have  come  to  your  help 
had  these  officers  not  heard  your  cries.  But  I 
trust  that  you  are  not  really  hurt ! "  He  spoke 
with  earnestness,  for  he  was  in  truth  very  fond 
of  Berthier — more  so  than  of  any  man,  unless  it 
were  of  poor  Duroc. 

Berthier  laughed,  though  not  with  a  very  good 
grace. 

"  It  is  new  for  me  to  receive  my  injuries  from 
French  hands,"  said  he. 

"  And  yet  it  was  in  the  cause  of  France,"  re- 
turned the  Emperor,  Then,  turning  to  us,  he  took 
old  Tremeau  by  the  ear.  "Ah,  old  grumbler," 
said  he,  "  you  were  one  of  my  Egyptian  grena- 
diers, were  you  not,  and  had  your  musket  of  hon- 
our at  Marengo.  I  remember  you  very  well,  my 
good  friend.  So  the  old  fires  are  not  yet  extin- 
guished ?  They  still  burn  up  when  you  think 
that  your  Emperor  is  wronged.  And  you,  Colo- 
nel Despienne,  you  would  not  even  listen  to  the 
tempter.  And  you,  Gerard,  your  faithful  sword 
is  ever  to  be  between  me  and  my  enemies.  Well, 
well,  I  have  had  some  traitors  about  me,  but  now 
at  last  we  are  beginning  to  see  who  are  the  true 
men." 


330       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

You  can  fancy,  my  friends,  the  thrill  of  joy 
which  it  gave  us  when  the  greatest  man  in  the 
whole  world  spoke  to  us  in  this  fashion.  Tre- 
meau  shook  until  I  thought  he  would  have  fallen, 
and  the  tears  ran  down  his  gigantic  moustache. 
If  you  had  not  seen  it,  you  could  never  believe 
the  influence  which  the  Emperor  had  upon  those 
coarse-grained,  savage  old  veterans. 

"Well,  my  faithful  friends,"  said  he,  "if  you 
will  follow  me  into  this  room,  I  will  explain  to 
you  the  meaning  of  this  little  farce  which  we  have 
been  acting.  I  beg,  Berthier,  that  you  will  remain 
in  this  chamber,  and  so  make  sure  that  no  one 
interrupts  us." 

It  was  new  for  us  to  be  doing  business,  with  a 
Marshal  of  France  as  sentry  at  the  door.  How- 
ever, we  followed  the  Emperor  as  we  were 
ordered,  and  he  led  us  into  the  recess  of  the 
window,  gathering  us  around  him  and  sinking  his 
voice  as  he  addressed  us. 

"  I  have  picked  you  out  of  the  whole  army," 
said  he,  "  as  being  not  only  the  most  formidable, 
but  also  the  most  faithful  of  my  soldiers.  I  was 
convinced  that  you  were  all  three  men  who  would 
never   waver   in   your  fidelity   to  me.      If  I  have 


HOW  HE  WAS  TEMPTED   BY  THE  DEVIL.      33 1 

ventured  to  put  that  fidelity  to  the  proof,  and  to 
watch  you  whilst  attempts  were  at  my  orders 
made  upon  your  honour,  it  was  only  because,  in 
the  days  when  I  have  found  the  blackest  treason 
amongst  my  own  flesh  and  blood,  it  is  necessary 
that  I  should  be  doubly  circumspect.  Suffice  it 
that  I  am  well  convinced  now  that  I  can  rely 
upon  your  valour." 

"  To  the  death,  sire  !  "  cried  Tremeau,  and  we 
both  repeated  it  after  him. 

Napoleon  drew  us  all  yet  a  little  closer  to  him, 
and  sank  his  voice  still  lower. 

"  What  I  say  to  you  now  I  have  said  to  no 
one — not  to  my  wife  or  my  brothers ;  only  to 
you.  It  is  all  up  with  us,  my  friends.  We  have 
come  to  our  last  rally.  The  game  is  finished,  and 
we  must  make  provision  accordingly." 

My  heart  seemed  to  have  changed  to  a  nine- 
pounder  ball  as  I  listened  to  him.  We  had  hoped 
against  hope,  but  now  when  he,  the  man  who  was 
always  serene  and  who  always  had  reserves — 
when  he,  in  that  quiet,  impassive  voice  of  his, 
said  that  everything  was  over,  we  realized  that 
the  clouds  had  shut  for  ever,  and  the  last  gleam 
gone.     Tremeau  snarled  and  gripped  at  his  sabre. 


332       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

Despienne  ground  his  teeth,  and  for  my  own  part 
I  threw  out  my  chest  and  clicked  my  heels  to 
show  the  Emperor  that  there  were  some  spirits 
which  could  rise  to  adversity. 

"  My  papers  and  my  fortune  must  be  secured," 
whispered  the  Emperor.  "  The  whole  course  of 
the  future  may  depend  upon  my  having  them 
safe.  They  are  our  base  for  the  next  attempt — 
for  I  am  very  sure  that  these  poor  Bourbons 
would  find  that  my  footstool  is  too  large  to  make 
a  throne  for  them.  Where  am  I  to  keep  these 
precious  things  ?  My  belongings  will  be  searched 
— so  will  the  houses  of  my  supporters.  They 
must  be  secured  and  concealed  by  men  whom  I 
can  trust  with  that  which  is  more  precious  to  me 
than  my  life.  Out  of  the  whole  of  France,  you 
are  those  whom  I  have  chosen  for  this  sacred 
trust. 

"  In  the  first  place,  I  will  tell  you  what  these 
papers  are.  You  shall  not  say  that  I  have  made 
you  blind  agents  in  the  matter.  They  are  the 
official  proof  of  my  divorce  from  Josephine,  of  my 
legal  marriage  to  Marie  Louise,  and  of  the  birth 
of  my  son  and  heir,  the  King  of  Rome.  If  we 
cannot  prove  each   of   these,  the   future  claim    of 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      333 

my  family  to  the  throne  of  France  falls  to  the 
ground.  Then  there  are  securities  to  the  value 
of  forty  millions  of  francs — an  immense  sum,  my 
friends,  but  of  no  more  value  than  this  riding 
switch  when  compared  to  the  other  papers  of 
which  I  have  spoken.  I  tell  you  these  things 
that  you  may  realize  the  enormous  importance  of 
the  task  which  I  am  committing  to  your  care. 
Listen,  now,  while  I  inform  you  where  you  are  to 
get  these  papers,  and  what  you  are  to  do  with  them. 
**  They  were  handed  over  to  my  trusty  friend, 
the  Countess  Walewski,  at  Paris,  this  morning. 
At  five  o'clock  she  starts  for  Fontainebleau  in 
her  blue  berline.  She  should  reach  here  between 
half-past  nine  and  ten.  The  papers  will  be  con- 
cealed in  the  berline,  in  a  hiding-place  which 
none  know  but  herself.  She  has  been  warned 
that  her  carriage  will  be  stopped  outside  the 
town  by  three  mounted  officers,  and  she  will 
hand  the  packet  over  to  your  care.  You  are  the 
younger  man,  Gerard,  but  you  are  of  the  senior 
grade.  I  confide  to  your  care  this  amethyst  ring, 
which  you  will  show  the  lady  as  a  token  of  your 
mission,  and  which  you  will  leave  with  her  as  a 
receipt  for  her  papers. 


334       THE  EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

"  Having  received  the  packet,  you  will  ride 
with  it  into  the  forest  as  far  as  the  ruined  dove- 
house— the  Colombier.  It  is  possible  that  I  may 
meet  you  there— but  if  it  seems  to  me  to  be 
dangerous,  I  will  send  my  body-servant,  Mus- 
tapha,  whose  directions  you  may  take  as  being 
mine.  There  is  no  roof  to  the  Colombier,  and  to- 
night will  be  a  full  moon.  At  the  right  of  the 
entrance  you  will  find  three  spades  leaning  against 
the  wall.  With  these  you  will  dig  a  hole  three 
feet  deep  in  the  north-eastern  corner— that  is,  in 
the  corner  to  the  left  of  the  door,  and  nearest  to 
Fontainebleau.  Having  buried  the  papers,  you 
will  replace  the  soil  with  great  care,  and  you  will 
then  report  to  me  at  the  palace." 

These  were  the  Emperor's  directions,  but 
given  with  an  accuracy  and  minuteness  of  detail 
such  as  no  one  but  himself  could  put  into  an 
order.  When  he  had  finished,  he  made  us  swear 
to  keep  his  secret  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  as  long 
as  the  papers  should  remain  buried.  Again  and 
again  he  made  us  swear  it  before  he  dismissed  us 
from  his  presence. 

Colonel  Despienne  had  quarters  at  the  *'  Sign 
of  the  Pheasant,"  and  it  was  there  that  we  supped 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      335 

together.  We  were  all  three  men  who  had  been 
trained  to  take  the  strangest  turns  of  fortune  as 
part  of  our  daily  life  and  business,  yet  we  were 
all  flushed  and  moved  by  the  extraordinary  inter- 
view which  we  had  had,  and  by  the  thought  of 
the  great  adventure  which  lay  before  us.  For  my 
own  part,  it  had  been  my  fate  three  several  times 
to  take  my  orders  from  the  lips  of  the  Emperor 
himself,  but  neither  the  incident  of  the  Ajaccio 
murderers  nor  the  famous  ride  which  I  made  to 
Paris  appeared  to  offer  such  opportunities  as  this 
new  and  most  intimate  commission. 

**  If  things  go  right  with  the  Emperor,"  said 
Despienne,  "  we  shall  all  live  to  be  marshals  yet." 

We  drank  with  him  to  our  future  cocked  hats 
and  our  batons. 

It  was  agreed  between  us  that  we  should 
make  our  way  separately  to  our  rendezvous, 
which  was  to  be  the  first  milestone  upon  the 
Paris  road.  In  this  way  we  should  avoid  the 
gossip  which  might  get  about  if  three  men  who 
were  so  well  known  were  to  be  seen  riding  out 
together.  My  little  Violette  had  cast  a  shoe  that 
morning,  and  the  farrier  was  at  work  upon  her 
when    I    returned,    so    that    my    comrades   were 


33^       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

already  there  when  I  arrived  at  the  trysting- 
place.  I  had  taken  with  me  not  only  my  sabre, 
but  also  my  new  pair  of  English  rifled  pistols, 
with  a  mallet  for  knocking  in  the  charges.  They 
had  cost  me  a  hundred  and  fifty  francs  at  Trou- 
vel's,  in  the  Rue  de  Rivoli,  but  they  would  carry 
far  further  and  straighter  than  the  others.  It  was 
with  one  of  them  that  I  had  saved  old  Bouvet's 
life  at  Leipzig. 

The  night  was  cloudless,  and  there  was  a 
brilliant  moon  behind  us,  so  that  we  always  had 
three  black  horsemen  riding  down  the  white  road 
in  front  of  us.  The  country  is  so  thickly  wooded, 
however,  that  we  could  not  see  very  far.  The 
great  palace  clock  had  already  struck  ten,  but 
there  was  no  sign  of  the  Countess.  We  began  to 
fear  that  something  might  have  prevented  her 
from  starting. 

And  then  suddenly  we  heard  her  in  the  dis- 
tance. Very  faint  at  first  were  the  birr  of  wheels 
and  the  tat-tat-tat  of  the  horses'  feet.  Then  they 
grew  louder  and  clearer  and  louder  yet,  until  a 
pair  of  yellow  lanterns  swung  round  the  curve, 
and  in  their  light  we  saw  the  two  big  brown 
horses  tearing  along  with  the  high,  blue  carriage 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       337 

at  the  back  of  them.  The  postilion  pulled  them 
up  panting  and  foaming  within  a  few  yards  of  us. 
In  a  moment  we  were  at  the  window  and  had 
raised  our  hands  in  a  salute  to  the  beautiful  pale 
face  which  looked  out  at  us. 

"  We  are  the  three  officers  of  the  Emperor, 
madame/'  said  I,  in  a  low  voice,  leaning  my 
face  down  to  the  open  window.  "  You  have 
already  been  warned  that  we  should  wait  upon 
you." 

The  countess  had  a  very  beautiful,  cream-tinted 
complexion  of  a  sort  which  I  particularly  admire, 
but  she  grew  whiter  and  whiter  as  she  looked  up 
at  me.  Harsh  lines  deepened  upon  her  face  until 
she  seemed,  even  as  I  looked  at  her,  to  turn  from 
youth  into  age. 

"  It  is  evident  to  me,"  she  said,  "  that  you  are 
three  impostors." 

If  she  had  struck  me  across  the  face  with  her 
delicate  hand  she  could  not  have  startled  me 
more.  It  was  not  her  words  only,  but  the  bitter- 
ness with  which  she  hissed  them  out. 

"  Indeed,  madame,"  said  I.  "  You  do  us  less 
than  justice.  These  are  the  Colonel  Despienne 
and   Captain   Tremeau.     For  myself,  my  name  is 


338       THE   EXPLOITS   OF  BRIGADIER  GERARD. 

Brigadier  Gerard,  and  I  have  only  to  mention  it 
to  assure  anyone  who  has  heard  of  me  that " 

*'Oh,  you  villains!"  she  interrupted.  "You 
think  that  because  I  am  only  a  woman  1  am  very 
easily  to  be  hoodwinked!  You  miserable  impos- 
tors ! " 

I  looked  at  Despienne,  who  had  turned  white 
wuth  anger,  and  at  Tremeau,  who  was  tugging  at 
his  moustache. 

"Madame,"  said  I,  coldly,  "when  the  Em- 
peror did  us  the  honour  to  intrust  us  with  this 
mission,  he  gave  me  this  amethyst  ring  as  a  token. 
I  had  not  thought  that  three  honourable  gentle- 
men would  have  needed  such  corroboration,  but 
I  can  only  confute  your  unworthy  suspicions  by 
placing  it  in  your  hands." 

She  held  it  up  in  the  light  of  the  carriage 
lamp,  and  the  most  dreadful  expression  of  grief 
and  of  horror  contorted  her  face. 

"  It  is  his ! "  she  screamed,  and  then,  "  Oh, 
my  God,  what  have  I  done?  What  have  I 
done?" 

I  felt  that  something  terrible  had  befallen. 
"  Quick,  madame,  quick ! "  I  cried.  "  Give  us  the 
papers ! " 


HOW   HE  WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       339 

,"  I  have  already  given  them." 

"  Given  them  !     To  whom  ?  " 

"  To  three  officers." 

**  When !  " 

"Within  the  half-hour." 

"  Where  are  they  ?  " 

"  God  help  me,  I  do  not  know.  They  stopped 
the  berline,  and  I  handed  them  over  to  them  with- 
out hesitation,  thinking  that  they  had  come  from 
the  Emperor." 

It  was  a  thunder-clap.  But  those  are  the  mo- 
ments when  I  am  at  my  finest. 

"  You  remain  here,"  said  I,  to  my  comrades. 
**  If  three  horsemen  pass  you,  stop  them  at  any 
hazard.  The  lady  will  describe  them  to  you.  I 
will  be  with  you  presently."  One  shake  of  the 
bridle,  and  I  was  flying  into  Fontainebleau  as  only 
Violette  could  have  carried  me.  At  the  palace  I 
flung  myself  off,  rushed  up  the  stairs,  brushed 
aside  the  lackeys  who  would  have  stopped  me, 
and  pushed  my  way  into  the  Emperor's  own  cabi- 
net. He  and  Macdonald  were  busy  with  pencil 
and  compasses  over  a  chart.  He  looked  up  with 
an  angry  frown  at  my  sudden  entry,  but  his  face 
changed  colour  when  he  saw  that  it  was  I. 


340       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  You  can  leave  us,  Marshal,"  said  he,  and  then, 
the  instant  that  the  door  was  closed:  "What 
news  about  the  papers?" 

"They  are  gone,"  said  I,  and  in  a  few  curt 
words  I  told  him  what  had  happened.  His  face 
was  calm,  but  I  saw  the  compasses  quiver  in  his 
hand. 

"  You  must  recover  them,  Gerard ! "  he  cried. 
"The  destinies  of  my  dynasty  are  at  stake.  Not 
a  moment  is  to  be  lost !     To  horse,  sir,  to  horse !  " 

"Who  are  they,  sire?" 

"  I  cannot  tell.  I  am  surrounded  with  treason. 
But  they  will  take  them  to  Paris.  To  whom 
should  they  carry  them  but  to  the  villain  Talley- 
rand ?  Yes,  yes,  they  are  on  the  Paris  road,  and 
may  yet  be  overtaken.  With  the  three  best 
mounts  in  my  stables  and " 

I  did  not  wait  to  hear  the  end  of  the  sentence. 
I  was  already  clattering  down  the  stair.  I  am 
sure  that  five  minutes  had  not  passed  before  I 
was  galloping  Violette  out  of  the  town  with  the 
bridle  of  one  of  the  Emperor's  own  Arab  chargers 
in  either  hand.  They  wished  me  to  take  three, 
but  I  should  have  never  dared  to  look  my  Vio- 
lette in  the  face   again.     I  feel  that  the  spectacle 


HOW   HE  WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       34I 

must  have  been  superb  when  I  dashed  up  to  my 
comrades  and  pulled  the  horses  on  to  their 
haunches  in  the  moonlight. 

"No  one  has  passed?" 

"  No  one." 

"  Then  they  are  on  the  Paris  road.  Quick ! 
Up  and  after  them  !  " 

They  did  not  take  long,  those  good  soldiers. 
In  a  flash  they  were  upon  the  Emperor's  horses, 
and  their  own  left  masterless  by  the  roadside. 
Then  away  we  went  upon  our  long  chase,  I  in 
the  centre,  Despienne  upon  my  right,  and  Tre- 
meau  a  little  behind,  for  he  was  the  heavier  man. 
Heavens,  how  we  galloped!  The  twelve  flying 
hoofs  roared  and  roared  along  the  hard,  smooth 
road.  Poplars  and  moon,  black  bars  and  silver 
streaks,  for  mile  after  mile  our  course  lay  along 
the  same  chequered  track,  with  our  shadows  in 
front  and  our  dust  behind.  We  could  hear  the 
rasping  of  bolts  and  the  creaking  of  shutters  from 
the  cottages  as  we  thundered  past  them,  but  we 
were  only  three  dark  blurs  upon  the  road  by  the 
time  that  the  folk  could  look  after  us.  It  was 
just  striking  midnight  as  we  raced  into  Corbail ; 
but  an  ostler  with  a  bucket   in    either   hand  was 


342       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

throwing  his  black  shadow  across  the  golden  fan 
which  was  cast  from  the  open  door  of  the  inn. 

"  Three  riders ! "  I  gasped.  "  Have  they 
passed  ? " 

''  I  have  just  been  watering  their  horses,"  said 
he.     "  I  should  think  they " 

"  On,  on,  my  friends ! "  and  away  we  flew, 
striking  fire  from  the  cobblestones  of  the  little 
town.  A  gendarme  tried  to  stop  us,  but  his  voice 
was  drowned  by  our  rattle  and  clatter.  The 
houses  slid  past,  and  we  were  out  on  the  country 
road  again,  with  a  clear  twenty  miles  between 
ourselves  and  Paris.  How  could  they  escape  us, 
with  the  finest  horses  in  France  behind  them? 
Not  one  of  the  three  had  turned  a  hair,  but  Vio- 
lette  was  always  a  head  and  shoulders  to  the 
front.  She  was  going  within  herself,  too,  and  I 
knew  by  the  spring  of  her  that  I  had  only  to  let 
her  stretch  herself,  and  the  Emperor's  horses 
would  see  the  colour  of  her  tail. 

**  There  they  are !  "  cried  Despienne. 

"  We  have  them  !  "  growled  Tremeau. 

"  On,  comrades,  on ! "  I  shouted,  once  more. 

A  long  stretch  of  white  road  lay  before  us  in 
the  moonlight.     Far  away  down   it  we  could  see 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       343 

three  cavaliers,  lying-  low  upon  their  horses'  necks. 
Every  instant  they  grew  larger  and  clearer  as  we 
gained  upon  them.  I  could  see  quite  plainly  that 
the  two  upon  either  side  were  wrapped  in  mantles 
and  rode  upon  chestnut  horses,  whilst  the  man 
between  them  was  dressed  in  a  chasseur  uniform 
and  mounted  upon  a  grey.  They  were  keeping 
abreast,  but  it  was  easy  enough  to  see  from  the 
way  in  which  he  gathered  his  legs  for  each  spring 
that  the  centre  horse  was  far  the  fresher  of  the 
three.  And  the  rider  appeared  to  be  the  leader 
of  the  party,  for  we  continually  saw  the  glint  of 
his  face  in  the  moonshine  as  he  looked  back  to 
measure  the  distance  between  us.  At  first  it  was 
only  a  glimmer,  then  it  was  cut  across  with  a 
moustache,  and  at  last  when  we  began  to  feel  their 
dust  in  our  throats  I  could  give  a  name  to  my  man. 

"  Halt,  Colonel  de  Montluc ! "  I  shouted. 
"  Halt,  in  the  Emperor's  name  !  " 

I  had  known  him  for  years  as  a  daring  officer 
and  an  unprincipled  rascal.  Indeed,  there  was  a 
score  between  us,  for  he  had  shot  my  friend, 
Treville,  at  Warsaw,  pulling  his  trigger,  as  some 
said,  a  good  second  before  the  drop  of  the  hand- 
kerchief. 


344      THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

Well,  the  words  were  hardly  out  of  my  mouth 
when  his  two  comrades  wheeled  round  and  fired 
their  pistols  at  us.  I  heard  Despienne  give  a 
terrible  cry,  and  at  the  same  instant  both  Tre- 
meau  and  I  let  drive  at  the  same  man.  He  fell 
forward  with  his  hands  swinging  on  each  side  of 
his  horse's  neck.  His  comrade  spurred  on  to 
Tremeau,  sabre  in  hand,  and  I  heard  the  crash 
which  comes  when  a  strong  cut  is  met  by  a 
stronger  parry.  For  my  own  part  I  never  turned 
my  head,  but  I  touched  Violette  with  the  spur 
for  the  first  time  and  flew  after  the  leader.  That 
he  should  leave  his  comrades  and  fly  w^as  proof 
enough  that  I  should  leave  mine  and  follow. 

He  had  gained  a  couple  of  hundred  paces, 
but  the  good  little  mare  set  that  right  before  we 
could  have  passed  two  milestones.  It  was  in  vain 
that  he  spurred  and  thrashed  like  a  gunner  driver 
on  a  soft  road.  His  hat  flew  off  with  his  exertions, 
and  his  bald  head  gleamed  in  the  moonshine. 
But  do  what  he  might,  he  still  heard  the  rattle 
of  the  hoofs  growing  louder  and  louder  behind 
him.  I  could  not  have  been  twenty  yards  from 
him,  and  the  shadow  head  was  touching  the 
shadow  haunch,  when  he  turned  with    a  curse  in 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      345 

his  saddle  and  emptied  both  his  pistols,  one  after 
the  other,  into  Violette. 

I  have  been  wounded  myself  so  often  that  I 
have  to  stop  and  think  before  I  can  tell  you  the 
exact  number  of  times.  I  have  been  hit  by 
musket  balls,  by  pistol  bullets,  and  by  bursting 
shell,  besides  being  pierced  by  bayonet,  lance, 
sabre,  and  finally  by  a  bradawl,  which  was  the 
most  painful  of  any.  Yet  out  of  all  these  injuries 
I  have  never  known  the  same  deadly  sickness  as 
came  over  me  when  I  felt  the  poor,  silent,  patient 
creature,  which  I  had  come  to  love  more  than 
anything  in  the  world  except  my  mother  and  the 
Emperor,  reel  and  stagger  beneath  me.  I  pulled 
my  second  pistol  from  my  holster  and  fired  point- 
blank  between  the  fellow's  broad  shoulders.  He 
slashed  his  horse  across  the  flank  with  his  whip, 
and  for  a  moment  I  thought  that  I  had  missed 
him.  But  then  on  the  green  of  his  chasseur 
jacket  I  saw  an  ever-widening  black  smudge,  and 
he  began  to  sway  in  his  saddle,  very  slightly  at 
first,  but  more  and  more  with  every  bound,  until 
at  last  over  he  went,  with  his  foot  caught  in  the 
stirrup  and  his  shoulders  thud-thud-thudding  along 
the  road,  until   the   drag  was   too  much   for   the 


346       THE   EXPLOITS  OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

tired  horse,  and  I  closed  my  hand  upon  the  foam- 
spattered  bridle-chain.  As  I  pulled  him  up  it 
eased  the  stirrup  leather,  and  the  spurred  heel 
clinked  loudly  as  it  fell. 

"  Your  papers  !  "  I  cried,  springing  from  my 
saddle.     "  This  instant !  " 

But  even  as  I  said  it,  the  huddle  of  the  green 
body  and  the  fantastic  sprawl  of  the  limbs  in  the 
moonlight  told  me  clearly  enough  that  it  was  all 
over  with  him.  My  bullet  had  passed  through  his 
heart,  and  it  was  only  his  own  iron  will  which  had 
held  him  so  long  in  the  saddle.  He  had  lived 
hard,  this  Montluc,  and  I  will  do  him  justice  to 
say  that  he  died  hard  also. 

But  it  was  the  papers — always  the  papers — of 
which  I  thought.  I  opened  his  tunic  and  I  felt  in 
his  shirt.  Then  I  searched  his  holsters  and  his 
sabre-tasche.  Finally  I  dragged  off  his  boots,  and 
undid  his  horse's  girth  so  as  to  hunt  under  the 
saddle.  There  was  not  a  nook  or  crevice  which 
I  did  not  ransack.  It  was  useless.  They  were 
not  upon  him. 

When  this  stunning  blow  came  upon  me  I 
could  have  sat  down  by  the  roadside  and  wept. 
Fate  seemed  to  be  fighting  against  me,  and  that  is 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      347 

an  enemy  from  whom  even  a  gallant  hussar  might 

not  be  ashamed  to  flinch.     I   stood  with  my  arm 

over  the  neck  of  my  poor  wounded  Violettc,  and 

I  tried  to  think  it  all  out,  that  I  might  act  in  llic 

wisest  way.     I   was  aware  that  the  Emperor  had 

no  great   respect   for  my    wits,  and    I    longed  to 

show    him    that    he    had    done   me    an   injustice. 

Montluc  had   not   the  papers.     And  yet    Montluc 

had  sacrificed    his  companions  in    order   to  make 

his  escape.      I  could  make  nothing  of  that.      On 

the  other  hand,  it  was   clear   that,  if   he  had  not 

got  them,  one  or  other  of  his  comrades  had.     One 

of  them  was  certainly  dead.     The  other  I  had  left 

fighting  with  Tremeau,  and  if  he  escaped  from  the 

old  swordsman  he  had  still  to  pass  me.     Clearly, 

my  work  lay  behind  me. 

I    hammered    fresh    charges    into    my    pistols 

after  I  had    turned   this  over  in  my  head.     Then 

I  put  them  back  in  the  holsters,  and  I  examined 

my  little  mare,  she  jerking  her  head  and  cocking 

her   ears  the    while,    as   if   to  tell   me  that  an  old 

soldier  like    herself   did   not    make  a  fuss  about  a 

scratch  or  two.     The  first  shot  had  merely  grazed 

her  off  shoulder,  leaving  a  skin-mark,  as  if  she  had 

brushed   a   wall.     The   second    was    more  serious. 
23 


348       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

It  had  passed  through  the  muscle  of  her  neck, 
but  already  it  had  ceased  to  bleed.  I  reflected 
that  if  she  weakened  I  could  mount  Montluc's 
grey,  and  meanwhile  I  led  him  along  beside  us, 
for  he  was  a  fine  horse,  worth  fifteen  hundred 
francs  at  the  least,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  no 
one  had  a  better  right  to  him  than  I. 

Well,  I  was  all  impatience  now  to  get  back 
to  the  others,  and  1  had  just  given  Violette  her 
head,  when  suddenly  I  saw  something  glimmering 
in  a  field  by  the  roadside.  It  was  the  brasswork 
upon  the  chasseur  hat  which  had  flown  from 
Montluc's  head  ;  and  at  the  sight  of  it  a  thought 
made  me  jump  in  the  saddle.  How  could  the  hat 
have  flown  off?  With  its  weight,  would  it  not 
have  simply  dropped  ?  And  here  it  lay,  fifteen 
paces  from  the  roadway  !  Of  course,  he  must 
have  thrown  it  of[  when  he  had  made  sure  that 
I  would  overtake  him.  And  if  he  threw  it  off — I 
did  not  stop  to  reason  any  more,  but  sprang  from 
the  mare  with  my  heart  beating  the  pas-de-charge. 
Yes,  it  was  all  right  this  time.  There,  in  the 
crown  of  the  hat  was  stuffed  a  roll  of  papers  in 
a  parchment  wrapper  bound  round  with  yellow 
ribbon.     I  pulled   it  out  with    the  one   hand,  and 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      349 

holding  the  hat  in  the  other,  I  danced  for  joy  in 
the  moonlight.  The  Emperor  would  see  that  he 
had  not  made  a  mistake  when  he  put  his  affairs 
into  the  charge  of  Etienne  Gerard. 

I  had  a  safe  pocket  on  the  inside  of  my  tunic 
just  over  my  heart,  where  I  kept  a  few  little 
things  which  were  dear  to  me,  and  into  this  I 
thrust  my  precious  roll.  Then  I  sprang  upon 
Violette,  and  was  pushing  forward  to  see  what 
had  become  of  Tremeau,  when  I  saw  a  horseman 
riding  across  the  field  in  the  distance.  At  the 
same  instant  I  heard  the  sound  of  hoofs  approach- 
ing me,  and  there  in  the  moonlight  was  the  Em- 
peror upon  his  white  charger,  dressed  in  his  grey 
overcoat  and  his  three-cornered  hat,  just  as  I  had 
seen  him  so  often  upon  the  field  of  battle. 

''  Well !  "  he  cried,  in  the  sharp,  sergeant-major 
way  of  his.     ^' Where  are  my  papers?" 

I  spurred  forward  and  presented  them  without 
a  word.  He  broke  the  ribbon  and  ran  his  eyes 
rapidly  over  them.  Then,  as  we  sat  our  horses 
head  to  tail,  he  threw  his  left  arm  across  me  with 
his  hand  upon  my  shoulder.  Yes,  my  friends, 
simple  as  you  see  me,  I  have  been  embraced  by 
my  great  master. 


350       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BPaOADIER   GERARD. 

"Gerard,"  he  cried,  "jou  are  a  marvel!" 

I  did  not  wish  to  contradict  him,  and  it  brought 
a  flush  of  joy  upon  my  cheeks  to  know  that  he 
had  done  me  justice  at  last. 

"Where  is  the  thief,  Gerard?"  he  asked. 

"Dead,  sire." 

"You  killed  him?" 

"  He  wounded  my  horse,  sire,  and  would  have 
escaped  had  I  not  shot  him." 

"Did  you  recognise  him ?  " 

"  De  Montluc  is  his  name,  sire — a  Colonel  of 
Chasseurs." 

"  Tut,"  said  the  Emperor.  "  We  have  got  the 
poor  pawn,  but  the  hand  which  plays  the  game  is 
still  out  of  our  reach,"  He  sat  in  silent  thought  for 
a  little,  with  his  chin  sunk  upon  his  chest.  "  Ah, 
Talleyrand,  Talleyrand,"  I  heard  him  mutter.  "  If 
I  had  been  in  your  place  and  you  in  mine,  you  would 
have  crushed  a  viper  when  you  held  it  under  your 
heel.  For  five  years  I  have  known  you  for  what 
you  are,  and  yet  I  have  let  you  live  to  sting  me. 
Never  mind,  my  brave,"  he  continued,  turning  to 
me,  "  there  will  come  a  day  of  reckoning  for  every- 
body, and  when  it  arrives,  I  promise  you  that  my 
friends  will  be  remembered  as  well  as  my  enemies." 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       35 1 

"  Sire,"  said  I,  for  I  had  had  time  for  thought 
as  well  as  he,  *'  if  your  plans  about  these  papers 
have  been  carried  to  the  ears  of  your  enemies,  I 
trust  that  you  do  not  think  that  it  was  owing  to 
any  indiscretion  upon  the  part  of  myself  or  of 
my  comrades." 

"  It  would  be  hardly  reasonable  for  me  to  do 
so,"  he  answered,  "  seeing  that  this  plot  was 
hatched  in  Paris,  and  that  you  only  had  your  or- 
ders a  few  hours  ago." 

"Then  how ?" 

"  Enough,"  he  cried,  sternly.  "You  take  an  un- 
due advantage  of  your  position." 

That  was  always  the  way  with  the  Emperor.  He 
would  chat  with  you  as  with  a  friend  and  a  brother, 
and  then  when  he  had  wiled  you  into  forgetting 
the  gulf  which  lay  between  you,  he  would  sud- 
denly, with  a  word  or  with  a  look,  remind  you 
that  it  was  as  impassable  as  ever.  When  I  have 
fondled  my  old  hound  until  he  has  been  encour- 
aged to  paw  my  knees,  and  I  have  then  thrust 
him  down  again,  it  has  made  me  think  of  the 
Emperor  and  his  ways. 

He  reined  his  horse  round,  and  I  followed 
him  in  silence  and  with  a  heavy  heart.     But  when 


352       THE   EXPLOITS  OF  BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

he  spoke  again  his  words  were  enough  to  drive 
all  thought  of  myself  out  of  my  mind. 

*'  I  could  not  sleep  until  I  knew  how  you  had 
fared,"  said  he.  "  I  have  paid  a  price  for  my 
papers.  There  are  not  so  many  of  my  old  sol- 
diers left  that  I  can  afford  to  lose  two  in  one 
night." 

When  he  said  ''  two  "  it  turned  me  cold. 

**  Colonel  Despienne  was  shot,  sire,"  I  stam- 
mered. 

"  And  Captain  Tremeau  cut  down.  Had  I 
been  a  few  minutes  earlier  I  might  have  saved 
him.     The  other  escaped  across  the  fields." 

I  remembered  that  I  had  seen  a  horseman  a 
moment  before  I  had  met  the  Emperor.  He  had 
taken  to  the  fields  to  avoid  me,  but  if  I  had  known, 
and  Violette  been  unwounded,  the  old  soldier 
would  not  have  gone  unavenged.  I  was  thinking 
sadly  of  his  sword-play,  and  wondering  whether 
it  was  his  stiffening  wrist  which  had  been  fatal  to 
him,  when  Napoleon  spoke  again. 

"  Yes,  Brigadier,"  said  he,  "  you  are  now  the 
only  man  who  will  know  where  these  papers  are 
concealed." 

It  must  have  been  imagination,  my  friends,  but 


HOW    HE   WAS   TEMPTED   IJV    THE    DEVIL.       353 

for  an  instant  I  may  confess  that  it  seemed  to 
me  that  there  was  a  tone  in  the  Emperor's  voice 
which  was  not  altogether  one  of  sorrow.  But 
the  dark  thought  had  hardly  time  to  form  itself 
in  my  mind  before  he  let  me  see  that  I  was  do- 
ing him  an  injustice. 

*'  Yes,  I  have  paid  a  price  for  my  papers,"  he 
said,  and  I  heard  them  crackle  as  he  put  his  hand 
up  to  his  bosom.  *'  No  man  has  ever  had  more 
faithful  servants — no  man  since  the  beginning  of 
the  world." 

As  he  spoke  we  came  upon  the  scene  of  the 
struggle.  Colonel  Despienne  and  the  man  whom 
we  had  shot  lay  together  some  distance  down  the 
road,  while  their  horses  grazed  contentedly  be- 
neath the  poplars.  Captain  Tremeau  lay  in  front 
of  us  upon  his  back,  with  his  arms  and  legs 
stretched  out,  and  his  sabre  broken  short  off  in 
his  hand.  His  tunic  was  open,  and  a  huge  blood- 
clot  hung  like  a  dark  handkerchief  out  of  a  slit 
in  his  white  shirt.  I  could  see  the  gleam  of  his 
clenched  teeth  from  under  his  immense  mous- 
tache. 

The  Emperor  sprang  from  his  horse  and  bent 
down  over  the  dead  man. 


354       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

"  He  was  with  me  since  Rivoli,"  said  he,  sadly. 
"  He  was  one  of  my  old  grumblers  in  Egypt." 

And  the  voice  brought  the  man  back  from  the 
dead.  I  saw  his  eyelids  shiver.  He  twitched  his 
arm,  and  moved  the  sword-hilt  a  few  inches.  He 
was  trying  to  raise  it  in  a  salute.  Then  the 
mouth  opened,  and  the  hilt  tinkled  down  on  to 
the  ground. 

*'  May  we  all  die  as  gallantly,"  said  the  Em- 
peror, as  he  rose,  and  from  my  heart  I  added 
"  Amen." 

There  was  a  farm  within  fifty  yards  of  where 
we  were  standing,  and  the  farmer,  roused  from 
his  sleep  by  the  clatter  of  hoofs  and  the  cracking 
of  pistols,  had  rushed  out  to  the  roadside.  We 
saw  him  now,  dumb  with  fear  and  astonishment, 
staring  open-eyed  at  the  Emperor.  It  was  to  him 
that  we  committed  the  care  of  the  four  dead  men 
and  of  the  horses  also.  For  my  own  part,  I 
thought  it  best  to  leave  Violette  with  him  and  to 
take  De  Montluc's  grey  with  me,  for  he  could 
not  refuse  to  give  me  back  my  own  mare,  whilst 
there  might  be  difficulties  about  the  other.  Be- 
sides, my  little  friend's  wound  had  to  be  consid- 
ered, and  we  had  a  long  return  ride  before  us. 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY  THE   DEVIL.      355 

The  Emperor  did  not  at  first  talk  much  upon 
the  way.  Perhaps  the  deaths  of  Despienne  and 
Tremeau  still  weighed  heavily  upon  his  spirits. 
He  was  always  a  reserved  man,  and  in  those  times, 
when  every  hour  brought  him  the  news  of  some 
success  of  his  enemies  or  defection  of  his  friends, 
one  could  not  expect  him  to  be  a  merry  com- 
panion. Nevertheless,  when  I  reflected  that  he 
was  carrying  in  his  bosom  those  papers  which  he 
valued  so  highly,  and  which  only  a  few  hours 
ago  appeared  to  be  for  ever  lost,  and  when  I 
further  thought  that  it  was  I,  Etienne  Gerard, 
who  had  placed  them  there,  I  felt  that  I  had  de- 
served some  little  consideration.  The  same  idea 
may  have  occurred  to  him,  for  when  we  had  at 
last  left  the  Paris  high  road,  and  had  entered  the 
forest,  he  began  of  his  own  accord  to  tell  me  that 
which  I  should  have  most  liked  to  have  asked  him. 
"  As  to  the  papers,"  said  he,  "  I  have  already 
told  you  that  there  is  no  one  now,  except  you 
and  me,  who  knows  where  they  are  to  be  con- 
cealed. My  Mameluke  carried  the  spades  to  the 
pigeon-house,  but  I  have  told  him  nothing.  Our 
plans,  however,  for  bringing  the  packet  from  Paris 
have    been    formed    since    Monday.      There  were 


356       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

three  in  the  secret,  a  woman  and  two  men.  The 
woman  I  would  trust  with  my  life  ;  which  of  the 
two  men  has  betrayed  us  I  do  not  know,  but  I 
think  that  I  may  promise  to  find  out." 

We  were  riding  in  the  shadow  of  the  trees 
at  the  time,  and  I  could  hear  him  slapping  his  rid- 
ing-whip against  his  boot,  and  taking  pinch  after 
pinch  of  snuff,  as  was  his  way  when  he  was  ex- 
cited. 

"  You  wonder,  no  doubt,"  said  he,  after  a 
pause,  ''  why  these  rascals  did  not  stop  the  car- 
riage at  Paris  instead  of  at  the  entrance  to 
Fontainebleau." 

In  truth,  the  objection  had  not  occurred  to 
me,  but  I  did  not  wish  to  appear  to  have  less 
wits  than  he  gave  me  credit  for,  so  I  answered 
that  it  was  indeed  surprising. 

"  Had  they  done  so  they  would  have  made  a 
public  scandal,  and  run  a  chance  of  missing  their 
end.  Short  of  taking  the  berline  to  pieces,  they 
could  not  have  discovered  the  hiding-place.  He 
planned  it  well — he  could  always  plan  well — and 
he  chose  his  agents  well  also.  But  mine  were 
the  better." 

It  is  not  for  me  to  repeat  to  you,  my  friends, 


HOW   HE  WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.       357 

all  that   was   said  to  me    by   the  Emperor   as  we 
walked    our    horses  amid    the    black  shadows  and 
through   the    moon-silvered    glades    of    the    great 
forest.     Every  word  of   it  is  impressed   upon  my 
memory,  and  before  I  pass  away  it  is  likely  that 
I  will  place  it  all  upon  paper,  so  that  others  may 
read  it  in  the  days  to  come.     He  spoke  freely  of 
his  past,  and  something  also  of  his  future  ;  of  the 
devotion  of  Macdonald,  of  the  treason  of  Marmont, 
of  the  little  King  of  Rome,  concerning  whom  he 
talked  with  as  much  tenderness  as  any  bourgeois 
father  of  a  single  child  ;  and,  finally,  of  his  father- 
in-law,  the    Emperor  of   Austria,   who  would,   he 
thought,  stand   between   his  enemies  and  himself. 
For  myself,  I  dared  not  say  a  word,  remembering 
how  I  had  already  brought  a  rebuke  upon  myself; 
but  I  rode  by  his  side,  hardly  able  to  believe  that 
this  was  indeed  the  great  Emperor,  the  man  whose 
glance   sent   a  thrill    through    me,  who    was    now 
pouring  out    his    thoughts    to  me    in  short,  eager 
sentences,  the  words  rattling  and  racing  like  the 
hoofs   of    a    galloping    squadron.      It    is    possible 
that,  after  the  word-splittings  and  diplomacy  of  a 
Court,  it  was  a  relief  to  him  to  speak  his  mind  to 
a  plain  soldier  like  myself. 


358       THE    EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

In  this  way  the  Emperor  and  I — even  after 
years  it  sends  a  flush  of  pride  into  my  cheeks  to 
be  able  to  put  those  words  together— the  Em- 
peror and  I  walked  our  horses  through  the 
forest  of  Fontainebleau,  until  we  came  at  last  to 
the  Colombier.  The  three  spades  were  propped 
against  the  wall  upon  the  right-hand  side  of  the 
ruined  door,  and  at  the  sight  of  them  the  tears 
sprang  to  my  eyes  as  I  thought  of  the  hands  for 
which  they  were  intended.  The  Emperor  seized 
one  and  I  another. 

"  Quick  !  "  said  he.  "  The  dawn  will  be  upon 
us  before  we  get  back  to  the  palace." 

We  dug  the  hole,  and  placing  the  papers  in 
one  of  my  pistol  holsters  to  screen  them  from 
the  damp,  we  laid  them  at  the  bottom  and  cov- 
ered them  up.  We  then  carefully  removed  all 
marks  of  the  ground  having  been  disturbed,  and 
we  placed  a  large  stone  upon  the  top.  I  dare 
say  that  since  the  Emperor  was  a  young  gunner, 
and  helped  to  train  his  pieces  against  Toulon,  he 
had  not  worked  so  hard  with  his  hands.  He  was 
mopping  his  forehead  with  his  silk  handkerchief 
Ions:  before  we  had  come  to  the  end  of  our  task. 

The  first  grey  cold  light  of  morning  was  steal- 


HOW   HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      3S9 

ing  through  the  tree  trunks  when  we  came  out 
together  from  the  old  pigeon-house.  The  Em- 
peror laid  his  hand  upon  my  shoulder  as  I  stood 
ready  to  help  him  to  mount. 

•*  We  have  left  the  papers  there,"  said  he, 
solemnly,  "  and  I  desire  that  you  shall  leave  all 
thought  of  them  there  also.  Let  the  recollection 
of  them  pass  entirely  from  your  mind,  to  be  re- 
vived only  when  you  receive  a  direct  order  under 
my  own  hand  and  seal.  From  this  time  onwards 
you  forget  all  that  has  passed." 

"  I  forget  it,  sire,"  said  I. 

We  rode  together  to  the  edge  of  the  town, 
where  he  desired  that  I  should  separate  from 
him.  I  had  saluted,  and  was  turning  my  horse, 
when  he  called  me  back. 

"  It  is  easy  to  mistake  the  points  of  the  com- 
pass in  the  forest,"  said  he.  "  Would  you  not  say 
that  it  was  in  the  north-eastern  corner  that  we 
buried  them  ?  " 

"  Buried  what,  sire  ?  " 

"  The  papers,  of  course,"  he  cried,  impatiently. 

"  What  papers,  sire  ?  " 

"Name  of  a  name!  Why,  the  papers  that 
you  have  recovered  for  me." 


360       THE   EXPLOITS   OF   BRIGADIER   GERARD. 

*'  I  am  really  at  a  loss  to  know  what  your 
Majest}^  is  talking  about." 

He  flushed  with  anger  for  a  moment,  and  then 
he  burst  out  laughing. 

"  Very  good,  Brigadier  !  "  he  cried.  "  I  begin  to 
believe  that  you  are  as  good  a  diplomatist  as  you 
are  a   soldier,  and  I  cannot  say  more  than  that." 

So  that  was  my  strange  adventure  in  which  I 
found  myself  the  friend  and  confident  agent  of 
the  Emperor.  When  he  returned  from  Elba  he 
refrained  from  digging  up  the  papers  until  his 
position  should  be  secure,  and  they  still  remained 
in  the  corner  of  the  old  pigeon-house  after  his 
exile  to  St.  Helena.  It  was  at  this  time  that  he 
was  desirous  of  getting  them  into  the  hands  of  his 
own  supporters,  and  for  that  purpose  he  wrote 
me,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  three  letters,  all  of 
which  were  intercepted  by  his  guardians.  Finally, 
he  offered  to  support  himself  and  his  own  es- 
tablishment—which he  might  very  easily  have 
done  out  of  the  gigantic  sum  which  belonged  to 
him— if  they  would  only  pass  one  of  his  letters 
unopened.  This  request  was  refused,  and  so,  up 
to   his    death    in    '21,   the    papers    still    remained 


HOW    HE   WAS   TEMPTED   BY   THE   DEVIL.      3^1 

where  I  have  told  you.  How  they  came  to  be  dug 
up  by  Count  Bertrand  and  myself,  and  who  even- 
tually obtained  them,  is  a  story  which  I  would  tell 
you,  were  it  not  that  the  end  has  not  yet  come. 

Some  day  you  will   hear  of   those  papers  and 
you  will  see  how,  after  he  has  been  so  long  in  his 
grave,  that  great  man  can  still  set  Europe  shaking. 
When  that  day  comes,  you  will  think  of  Etienne 
Gerard,  and  you  will  tell  your  children  that  you 
have  heard  the  story  from  the  lips  of  the  man  who 
was  the  only  one  living  of  all  who  took  part  in  that 
strange   history— the   man    who    was   tempted    by 
Marshal  Berthier,  who  led  that  wild  pursuit  upon 
the  Paris  road,  who  was  honoured  by  the  embrace 
of  the  Emperor,  and  who  rode  with  him  by  moon- 
light in  the  Forest  of  Fontainebleau.     The  buds  are 
bursting  and  the  birds  are  calling,  my  friends.    You 
may  find  better  things  to  do  in  the  sunlight  than 
listening  to  the  stories  of  an  old,  broken  soldier. 
And  yet  you  may  well  treasure  what  I  say,  for  the 
buds  will  have  burst  and  the  birds  sung  in  many 
seasons  before  France  will  see  such  another  ruler 
as  he  whose  servants  we  were  proud  to  be. 

THE    END. 


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